Think Twice with Jonathan Tobin (f.k.a. Top Story)

Ep. 154: WINNING! What Trump’s Victory Means for America, Israel, and the World Nov 07, 2024

JNS senior contributing editor Ruthie Blum joins editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin for a post-U.S. election analysis.
Tobin and Blum discuss all the ramifications for America, Israel, American Jews and more—join them on this episode of Think Twice!
Stay informed about Israel and the Jewish world!
Latest news: Get in-depth analysis at https://bit.ly/jewish_news_service
Subscribe for more: Never miss a story - sign up for our newsletter: https://eu1.hubs.ly/H09J9Tx0
Support our work: Your donation helps JNS fight for accurate headlines: https://eu1.hubs.ly/H09J8B40

Ep. 153: Harris’ 'Trump Is a Nazi' Closing Argument Won’t Work Oct 31, 2024

In this episode of "Think Twice," JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin is joined by Fox News and New York Post columnist Karol Markowicz to discuss the closing arguments of Donald Trump and Kamala Harris before the 2024 U.S. presidential elections coming up next week.
They also discuss Harris’ claim that “Trump is a fascist;” what a Harris presidency will mean for U.S. Jews and Israel; why Markowicz is mad at American Jews; and the complete implosion of the mainstream media.
Stay informed about Israel and the Jewish world!
Latest news: Get in-depth analysis at https://bit.ly/jewish_news_service
Subscribe for more: Never miss a story - sign up for our newsletter: https://eu1.hubs.ly/H09J9Tx0
Support our work: Your donation helps JNS fight for accurate headlines: https://eu1.hubs.ly/H09J8B40

Ep. 152: Bernard-Henri Lévy on Why Israel Stands Alone Oct 10, 2024

In this exclusive interview, Bernard-Henri Lévy lays it all on the table and discusses some hard truths about Israel’s current war and the Western world’s reaction.
Join JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin and French philosopher, filmmaker and author Bernard-Henri Lévy, the author of a new book about Oct. 7, Israel Alone. They discuss Lévy’s moving trip to the site of the Oct. 7 massacre and what he experienced there.
Lévy revisits any delusions some might have about peace with the Palestinians and has some choice words to share about the woke mob in the West.
Stay informed about Israel and the Jewish world!
Latest news: Get in-depth analysis at https://bit.ly/jewish_news_service
Subscribe for more: Never miss a story - sign up for our newsletter: https://eu1.hubs.ly/H09J9Tx0
Support our work: Your donation helps JNS fight for accurate headlines: https://eu1.hubs.ly/H09J8B40

Ep. 151: Why Are Jews Called 'Settlers Colonialists' w/ Adam Kirsch Sep 26, 2024

In this week’s episode of "Think Twice," JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin is joined by Adam Kirsch, author of the new book On Settler Colonialism, Ideology, Violence, and Justice.
Kirsch discusses the concept of "settler colonialism," its implications for Israel, and how it has fueled antisemitism on campus.
What is the historical context of the “colonialism” claim vis-à-vis the Jewish state? Why have so many people in academia and media fallen for this narrative? And what is the impact on campus and in broader society?
Listen to the fascinating discussion that explores one of the most popular myths fueling the Arab-Israeli conflict!
Stay informed about Israel and the Jewish world!
Latest news: Get in-depth analysis at https://bit.ly/jewish_news_service
Subscribe for more: Never miss a story - sign up for our newsletter: https://eu1.hubs.ly/H09J9Tx0
Support our work: Your donation helps JNS fight for accurate headlines: https://eu1.hubs.ly/H09J8B40

Ep. 150: Pushing Back Against Kamala-Mania w/Daniel Greenfield Aug 08, 2024

Virtually everyone these days seems to believe that we are currently living through "unprecedented" times.
However, in his latest book, "Domestic Enemies," Israeli-born journalist Daniel Greenfield contends that the United States has already experienced much of the imbalance and unrest we are witnessing today.
So what can conservatives learn and apply to the coming elections?
In this episode of "Think Twice," Greenfield and JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin touch on some important lessons that cannot be ignored if one wishes to stem the tide of regressive leftism.
Stay informed about Israel and the Jewish world!
Latest news: Get in-depth analysis at https://bit.ly/jewish_news_service
Subscribe for more: Never miss a story - sign up for our newsletter: https://eu1.hubs.ly/H09J9Tx0
Support our work: Your donation helps JNS fight for accurate headlines: https://eu1.hubs.ly/H09J8B40

Ep. 149: Biden and Harris DIMINISH Israel and ELEVATE Iran Aug 01, 2024

In this episode of “Think Twice,” JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin tries to make sense of the Biden/Harris strategy with Middle East expert Michael Doran.
They discuss everything from America’s policy towards Iran and its proxies to Biden’s tenuous relationship with Israel; the Gaza war and attempts to reach an agreement; the influence of domestic politics on foreign policy; and what U.S. foreign policy might look like under a Harris or Trump administration.
Stay informed about Israel and the Jewish World! Latest news:
Get in-depth analysis at https://bit.ly/jewish_news_service
Subscribe for more: Never miss a story - sign up for our newsletter https://bit.ly/subscribe_to_JNS
Support our work: Your donation helps JNS fight for accurate headlines: https://bit.ly/Support_JNS

Ep. 148: Elections 2024: What elites are MISSING about the working class Jul 25, 2024

In this episode of Think Twice, our guest Batya Ungar-Sargon, author of the groundbreaking book, “Second Class: How the Elites Betrayed America's Working Men and Women”, reveals what she learned about the cultural and economic situation of the American working class.
Ungar-Sargon and JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin examine what makes them tick, the real lives they are living, and why Trump allows them to finally feel seen.
Stay informed about Israel and the Jewish World! Latest news:
Get in-depth analysis at https://bit.ly/jewish_news_service
Subscribe for more: Never miss a story - sign up for our newsletter
https://bit.ly/subscribe_to_JNS
Support our work:
Your donation helps JNS fight for accurate headlines: https://bit.ly/Support_JNS

Ep. 147: UNPRECEDENTED: Are Trump and His Opposition Unique? Jul 18, 2024

Will Dems give Biden the boot? In today’s episode featuring presidential historian Tevi Troy, we dive into the history of American presidential campaigns to explore Trump’s uniqueness and how he has shifted the trajectory of the GOP.
We’ll also discuss previous presidential assassination attempts; the history of health worries and the 25th Amendment; Vice Presidential choices; the Jewish vote; and the changing relationship between business and politics.
Stay informed about Israel and the Jewish World! Latest news:
Get in-depth analysis at https://bit.ly/jewish_news_service
Subscribe for more: Never miss a story - sign up for our newsletter
https://bit.ly/subscribe_to_JNS
Support our work:
Your donation helps JNS fight for accurate headlines: https://bit.ly/Support_JNS

Ep. 146: Melanie Phillips: Britain Chooses Labour - Will the West Choose Survival? Jul 11, 2024

While it looks like the bad guys are winning elections across the West, there’s still room for hope! Tune in for this in-depth interview with Melanie Phillips as she lays out everything you need to know about last week’s UK elections and more.
Also, the UK Conservative party’s failures; how the relationship with Israel will change; the future of the UK Right & the West; and the importance of standing up to Iran.
Stay informed about Israel and the Jewish World! Latest news:
Get in-depth analysis at https://bit.ly/jewish_news_service
Subscribe for more: Never miss a story - sign up for our newsletter
https://bit.ly/subscribe_to_JNS
Support our work:
Your donation helps JNS fight for accurate headlines: https://bit.ly/Support_JNS

Ep. 145: PragerU CEO: Woke Education Leads to Attacks on Jews Jun 27, 2024

Leftist ideology has permeated everything from mainstream culture to news, literature, entertainment and even children's education. It has also led to a huge upsurge in antisemitism and anti-Israel violence in LA and other major cities throughout the US. However, it seems a large portion of Americans are not buying it.
To discuss all this and more, JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin speaks with the CEO of Prager U Marissa Streit. She discusses the importance of alternative sources of information in the face of the dominant left-wing ideology, big tech censorship, the ADL and the need for the Jewish community to stand up to an agenda that ultimately leads to attacks on Jews.
Stay informed about Israel and the Jewish World!
Latest news: Get in-depth analysis at https://bit.ly/jewish_news_service
Subscribe for more: Never miss a story - sign up for our newsletter https://bit.ly/subscribe_to_JNS
Support our work: Your donation helps JNS fight for accurate headlines: https://bit.ly/Support_JNS

Ep. 144: Think Twice Premiere Episode - Eric Cohen: Is there a future for Jews in America? Jun 20, 2024

Anyone honestly looking at the rise of antisemitism on campus and in major cities in the US is worried about the future of American Jewry. Are we witnessing the end of the golden era of Jews in America? Is there a path forward where Jews can once again feel safe?
In this premiere episode for Think Twice, JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin is joined by TIkvah Fund Executive Director Eric Cohen who posits for American Jewry to thrive there needs to be a "second exodus" from so-called higher institutions and a paradigm shift in who we consider our allies. For anyone concerned about the future of American Jewry, this is a conversation you don't want to miss!

Ep. 143: Military Historian: We Are Marching Down the Path to Allow the Next Hitler to Flourish Jun 06, 2024

On the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings in Normandy, JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin is joined by military historian Shalom Lamm to discuss why U.S. college students have been rallying for the Palestinian terrorists that their Israeli peers are fighting in Gaza. Will this frightening development lead the U.S. down a path that will allow the next Adolf Hitler to flourish?
Listen/subscribe to weekly episodes on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, iHeart Radio or wherever you listen to your podcasts.
Watch new episodes every week by subscribing to the JNS YouTube Channel.

Ep. 142: Richard Goldberg: US Needs a Complete Reset With ‘Immoral’ UN May 30, 2024

In this episode of “Top Story,” JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin is joined by Senior Advisor to the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies Richard Goldberg, who proposes a complete reset of our relationship with the United Nations.
Listen/subscribe to weekly episodes on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, iHeart Radio or wherever you listen to your podcasts.
Watch new episodes every week by subscribing to the JNS YouTube Channel.

Ep. 141: Seth Mandel: Antisemitism Is Baked Into DEI Ideology May 23, 2024

In this episode of “Top Story,” JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin is joined by Commentary magazine senior editor Seth Mandel to discuss the dangers inherent in woke ideologies like the diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) mantra that seems to have taken institutions of higher learning, journalism and so much else by storm.
Listen/subscribe to weekly episodes on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, iHeart Radio or wherever you listen to your podcasts.
Watch new episodes every week by subscribing to the JNS YouTube Channel.

Ep. 140: William Jacobson: Defund leftist academia that promotes hatred for Jews May 16, 2024

In this week’s episode of Top Story, JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin is joined by Cornell Law School professor William Jacobson, who is also the head of the Legal Insurrection Foundation, which advocates for free speech and Western values. Jacobson says that American universities are facing a complete lack of ideological diversity while colleges with conservative and pro-Israel professors are rapidly becoming extinct.

Ep. 139: LibsofTikTok founder: ‘I am afraid for my personal safety’ May 08, 2024

Chaya Raichik, also known as Libs of TikTok, discusses her journey from being a regular person to becoming a prominent conservative influencer on social media. Despite receiving threats, being called slurs and being banned on social media. Raichik vows to continue to expose the radicalism - and the antisemitism of the left.

Ep. 138: Hugh Hewitt: With Biden failing, Israel must lead the West Apr 18, 2024

The Biden administration’s foreign policy has sown confusion among both friends and foes of America. What should the US policy be after Iran has attacked Israel in the biggest drone strike in history? Can Israel count on the US or must it face its enemies alone?
To discuss all this, JNS editor-in- chief Jonathan Tobin is joined with syndicated radio host Hugh Hewitt. He explains that Biden's principle of non-escalation has led to disastrous consequences in Iran and Gaza.

Ep. 137: Mike Huckabee: Israel-Hamas war: A Conflict Between Good and Evil Apr 11, 2024

America is divided on many issues but none more so than on support for Israel with Democrats led by the Biden administration increasingly turning on the Jewish state since Oct. 7 while Republicans are backing it. Where and why is the democratic party turning away from Israel? Is the support among evangelical and conservative Christians rock solid or is it also wavering in the face of an unprecedented assault against the Jewish State?
JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin is joined by former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee to talk about current US/Israel relations and why he will always remain an unapologetic Zionist.

Ep. 136: Statistics Professor: How Hamas lies about Gaza casualties Apr 04, 2024

According to the latest reports, 30,000 Gazans have been killed in Israel's war with Gaza, a majority being women and children. But are the numbers coming from the Hamas-controlled Gaza Health Ministry correct? Are there obvious indications that these numbers are false? Moreover, do the numbers even matter or is this an emotional appeal to those already convinced that Israel is committing genocide?
To discuss all this, JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin is joined by Statistics Professor Abraham Wyner. They delve into why he thinks the numbers are obviously false and eaten up all to often by media eager to blame Israel.

Ep. 135: Dumisani Washington: Candace Owens Normalizes Antisemitism Mar 28, 2024

Oct. 7th has led to an upsurge in antisemitism and tensions in the decades-old alliance between Blacks and Jews in America. Moreover, leading African American voices like Candace Owens and Kanye West have pushed anti-Jewish tropes. Is the relationship irreparable? What can be done to combat antisemitism and the forces that are driving a wedge between the two communities.
To discuss all this, JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin is joined by Pastor Dumisani Washington, founder of the Institute for Black Solidarity with Israel (IBSI). He unpacks how some in the black community have chosen to care more about the Palestinians than their own communities.

Ep. 134: Ari Fleischer: There’s only one pro-Israel party left in America Mar 21, 2024

As the Biden administration becomes less and less supportive of Israel's war against Hamas does support for the Jewish state remain a bi-partisan issue? Is Sen. Chuck Schumer's speech a symptom much larger? Has the voter base of the Democratic party moved so far left that its politicians need to throw Israel under the bus to win votes?
To discuss all this, JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin is joined by Ari Fleischer who says that, contrary to the myth of the bipartisan consensus on Israel, there’s been a stark divide on support for the Jewish state between the parties for decades.

Ep. 133: Sheila Nazarian: Jewish Students Aren't Safe on Campus Mar 14, 2024

The American Jewish community has been slow to realize that the real attacks against Jews and Israel are happening on campus and social media. What can be done to combat conspiracy theories and antisemitism online? How can we fight against hatred and attacks on campus?
JNS editor-in-chief speaks with influencer, star of Netflix's "Skin Decision" and activist Sheila Nazarian about the most effective way to stand for Israel on campus and online and what can be done to make a safer world for the next generation.

Ep. 133: Elliott Abrams: Biden's Push for Two-State Solution Rewards Terrorism Mar 07, 2024

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/top-story-with-jonathan-tobin--5496747/support.
Why are the American foreign policy establishment and the Biden administration still peddling old, discredited ideas like the “two-state solution” that purport to be the formula to end the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians?
In this week’s episode of Top Story, JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin is joined by veteran diplomat and Tikvah Fund chairman Elliott Abrams to discuss where the push for Palestinian statehood is coming from and why Biden's Middle East policy is "so completely off base it's bizarre".

Top Story Daily: Can American colleges be rescued from woke antisemitism? Mar 04, 2024

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/top-story-with-jonathan-tobin--5496747/support
Harvard University’s shambolic attempt to investigate its own Jew-hatred is symptomatic of the grip that toxic leftist ideas have on higher education that must be challenged.
Listen to the full story!

Ep. 131: David Harsanyi: Anyone Who Wants A - Ceasefire Now Is Pro-Hamas Feb 29, 2024

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/top-story-with-jonathan-tobin--5496747/support.
What is behind the Biden administration's call for a ceasefire in the war against Hamas? Is US policy towards Israel shifting? Should aid to Israel be tied with aid to Ukraine?
To answer these crucial questions, JNS editor-in-chief speaks with The Federalist senior editor and author David Harsanyi.

Ep. 130: Shoshana Bryen: Biden's Two-Faced Approach to Hamas is Hurting Israel Feb 22, 2024

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/top-story-with-jonathan-tobin--5496747/support.
Why is the Biden administration verbally supporting Israel while hamstringing Israel's Rafah operation? Why is it vetoing a UN resolution for an immediate ceasefire while proposing a resolution that calls for one? Why has the Biden administration prioritized fighting against "settler violence" right after Israel has suffered the worst massacre since the Holocaust?
In this week’s episode of Top Story, JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin is joined by Jewish Policy Center Senior Director Shoshana Bryen to discuss Biden's two-faced policy in the Middle East.

Ep. 129: Preeminent Holocaust Scholar: October 7th Is a Turning Point in American Antisemitism Feb 08, 2024

After Oct. 7th, antisemitism has skyrocketed around the world - in the streets, media and in public discourse. After decades of multi-million dollar campaigns and efforts by Jewish groups to educate people about the Holocaust and antisemitism, nothing seems to have helped. Why have they not succeeded and is there anything that can be done? Where is this antisemitism coming from?
To answer these questions and more, JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin speaks with Indiana University’s Alvin Rosenfeld, one of the nation’s most eminent scholars of the study of antisemitism and the Holocaust.

Ep. 128: Charles Jacobs & Ben Poser: Why the World Cares About Gaza and Not About Africa Feb 01, 2024

Slavery and sex trafficking have never ended in Africa. But while the human rights community seems obsessed with "genocide" in Palestine, no one really pays attention to the massive human rights violations happening to black people in Africa. Why are human rights groups so selective? Why does the media gravitate towards and champion the rights of some while others are ignored?
This week on Top Story, JNS Editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin speaks with the co-founder of Americans for Peace and Tolerance Charles Jacobs and executive director of the American Anti-Slavery Group Ben Poser, both of whom are involved in raising awareness of African slaves and freeing them in some cases.

Ep. 127: Phyllis Chesler: With Israel and Hamas, Feminists Have Abandoned Moral Principles Jan 25, 2024

Why has there been so much silence and outright denial of Hamas crimes by purported women's rights groups? Why has the "MeToo" movement that pushed to "believe all women" not done the same for the women who were raped and abused by Palestinian attackers?
To discuss all this and more, JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin is joined by groundbreaking psychologist and feminist author Phyllis Chesler who said the willingness to excuse crimes committed by those seeking to slaughter Jews is unsurprising.

Ep. 126: Stella Escobedo: Mainstream Media Thinks Israeli and Jewish Lives Don't Matter Jan 18, 2024

In this week’s episode of Top Story, JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin is joined by One America News channel anchor Stella Inger Escobedo to discuss how a biased media that has been indoctrinated by woke DEI ideology is destroying journalism and distorting the coverage of the post-Oct. 7 war against the Hamas terrorists.

Ep. 125: Woke Antisemitism a K-12 School Problem As Well as One at Colleges Jan 11, 2024

Since Oct. 7th, antisemitism has exploded on US college campuses with Jews and Israel being accused of being white oppressors and committing genocide. But is the problem worse than we think? Have the roots of antisemitic thinking and anti-Israel bias seeped into other parts of the American educational system?
In this week’s episode of Top Story, JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin is joined by Deborah Project Legal Director Lori Lowenthal Marcus to discuss all of this.

Ep. 124: Jeffrey Gurock: Do Jews Still Have a Place in American Society? Dec 27, 2023

Since Oct. 7th, antisemitism has exploded in the United States with calls on the streets and on college campuses for attacks against Jews and the end of Israel. Has the place of the American Jew forever changed?
To answer this question, we take a look at another time when Jews faced antisemitism and discrimination in America's history. Jonathan Tobin is joined by historian Jeffrey Gurock of Yeshiva University whose new book, Marty Glickman: The Life of an American Jewish Sports Legend, discusses the obstacles faced by Jews in that era.

Ep. 121: IDF Spokesperson: Hamas are cowards that pretend they have an ideology Dec 20, 2023

This week on Top Story, JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin sat down with IDF Spokesperson Doron Spielman who has been at the front lines of the Israeli battle against Hamas.
They discuss

the morale of the army and the Israeli people
the unwillingness of the international aid organizations to help the Gazan people on the ground
the immense efforts that the Israeli army makes to protect Gazan civilians
the cowardice of Hamas in refusing to fight Israel face-to-face.

Listen to the full story now!

Ep. 121: Batya Ungar-Sargon: Our National Media Has Become the Mouthpiece For Terrorists Dec 05, 2023

Since October 7th when Israel was brutally attacked by terrorists, the script has been flipped and the media now portrays Israel as the aggressor, a killer of innocents, and conflates Israeli captives to Palestinian prisoners. How did we get here?
Newsweek opinion editor and author of one of the best books on how the media works "Bad News: How Woke Media Is Undermining Democracy" Batya Ungar-Sargon joins JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin to discuss.

Ep. 120: Alan Dershowitz: Anti-Israel Protestors on Campus are like Hitler Youth Nov 29, 2023

Where is the explosion of antisemitism coming from and how can we defeat it? What will be the effect on terrorism worldwide if Israel doesn't defeat Hamas?
To answer this question, JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin is joined by legal expert and author Alan Dershowitz, who has written a new book about the current conflict, War Against the Jews: How to End Hamas Barbarism.

Ep. 119: Ben Weingarten: Jew hatred is the glue that holds together the leftist-Islamic alliance Nov 22, 2023

How strong is the progressive anti-Israel wing of the Democrats? What unites the two seemingly opposing Islamist and Leftist ideologies? What can be done to fight back against the antisemitism and the worldview that feeds into it?
In this week’s episode of Top Story, JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin talks with journalist and author Ben Weingarten who predicted the rise of the progressive wing and the unholy alliance between Leftist and Islamist ideologies in his book "American Ingrate: Ilhan Omar and the Progressive-Islamist Takeover of the Democratic Party"

Top Story Daily: How dangerous are the anti-Israel conservatives? Nov 19, 2023

Unlike most Republicans and their voters, Tucker Carlson, Candace Owens and friends are defending antisemites in the wake of Oct. 7. Do they have Trump’s ear?
Listen to the full story!

Ep. 118: Dan Senor: The world isn't outraged when Jews are slaughtered Nov 16, 2023

Facing immense national tragedy and a world that is more outraged by Israel's response to Oct. 7 than the slaughter itself, how can Israel survive? Does Israel have the national DNA that will allow it to unify and persevere?
JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin is joined by Dan Senor, co-author of the best-selling book Start-Up Nation and the just released "The Genius of Israel: The Surprising Resilience of a Divided Nation in a Turbulent World."

Ep. 117: Prime Minister's Spokesperson: We Are in a Life or Death Fight for the State of Israel Nov 09, 2023

What is Israel up against in the war against Hamas? Even if Israel is winning on the battlefield, are we losing the information war? In this week’s episode of Top Story, JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin is joined by Tal Heinrich, spokesperson for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. They discuss

the war goals of Iron Swords
the information battle happening on the airwaves and on the streets of America
Israel's hope and unity in destroying Hamas and winning the war.

Ep. 116: Eugene Kontorovich: War Crimes in Gaza? How everyone is getting international law wrong Nov 02, 2023

Is Israel violating international law in Gaza? Is Israel responsible for the Gazan people? Does Israel have an obligation to rescue the hostages?
On this week's Top Story, Jonathan Tobin is joined by Eugene Kontorovich, Professor of Law and Director of the Center for the Middle East and International Law at the Antonin Scalia Law School of George Mason University,

Ep. 114: Melanie Phillips: The Murderous Consequences of Western Diplomacy Oct 25, 2023

Is Western 'peacemaking' in the Middle East perpetuating the Arab-Israeli conflict? Has the refusal by the West to see the evil of Hamas backfired? This week, Jonathan is joined by author and journalist Melanie Phillips.
Listen Now to the full story!

Ep. 114: Uri Kaufman: Make No mistake, Israel will Destroy Hamas Oct 19, 2023

Hamas attacked Israel last week almost 50 years to the day of the Yom Kippur War. Are there parallels between the two attacks? Has Israel made the same mistakes? Should Israel's response be similar?
On this week’s episode of Top Story, JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin talks with Uri Kaufman, author of the new book "Eighteen Days in October: The Yom Kippur War and How It Created the Modern Middle East".

Episode 113: Hezbollah Expert: U.S. appeasement of Iran led to the mass slaughter of Jews Oct 12, 2023

Will Hezbollah join the war against Israel? Has US foreign policy led to the emboldening of terrorists in the region? Is the most brutal attack on Jews since the Holocaust a simple outgrowth of Palestinian culture and education?
In this week’s episode of Top Story, JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin is joined by Hezbollah expert Tony Badran.

Ep. 111: Amb. David Friedman: If the Price of Peace is Negating Our Heritage, It’s NOT Worth It | Sep 21, 2023

Former US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman talks about his new movie "Route 60: The Biblical Highway" and the sacrifice that Israel should NOT make for the sake of peace.

Ep. 110: Harvey Klehr: What "Oppenheimer" got wrong and the Origins of the Left's "anti-racism" Sep 14, 2023

Did Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer tell the truth about the nuclear scientist? Also, Is the communist ideology alive and well in today's politics?
In this week’s episode of Top Story, JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin speaks with historian Harvey Klehr about the movie “Oppenheimer” and the legacy of American Communism.

Ep. 109: Michael Flynn Unfiltered: 'America is at grave risk' Sep 07, 2023

In this week’s episode of Top Story, JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin conducts a wide-ranging special interview with former Trump National Security Advisor Michael Flynn.
They discuss

If US elections are actually fair
Domestic and foreign threats facing the United States
His controversial comments on the Holocaust and how America should have "one religion"
The US/Israel relationship under Biden

and much more in this unedited raw interview.

Ep. 108: Rick Richman: How Zionism and Americanism created a free, democratic Israel Aug 31, 2023

At a time of such division, it has never been more timely to look back at the roots and history of Zionism.
JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin is joined by author Rick Richman who discusses his new book, And None Shall Make Them Afraid: Eight Stories of the Modern State of Israel.
They discuss

how two compatible ideologies, Zionism and Americanism, helped create a free and democratic state of Israel.
our misunderstanding of key figures like Theodor Herzl, Ze'ev Jabitinisky and others.
why this history is so important for today.

Ep. 107: Michael Oren: Israel must face its identity crisis to survive Aug 24, 2023

Is Israel ignoring its existential problems? Has Israel swept its problems under the rug for the political needs of the here and now?
In this week’s episode of Top Story, JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin discusses the problems facing Israel as it heads towards its 100th birthday with historian and former Israeli ambassador to the United States Michael Oren. He is the author of the new book 2048: The Rejuvenated State, a manifesto about how the Jewish state can deal with a long list of existential challenges including those brought to the fore by the divisions over judicial reform.

Episode 106: Rabbi Meir Soloveichik & Why We Need True Jewish Leaders Now More than Ever Aug 17, 2023

What is true Jewish leadership? Have we been thinking about our Jewish heroes all wrong?
In this week’s episode of Top Story, JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin discusses the essence of Jewish leadership with Rabbi Meir Soloveichik, the author of Providence and Power: 10 Portraits in Jewish Statesmanship.
An insightful, fundamental and big-picture discussion that you won't want to miss!

Ep. 105: Iddo Netanyahu: The Israeli Left is Initiating a Military Coup Aug 10, 2023

Is the Israeli left by refusing to serve in the military holding the country hostage? Have we seen this before?
In this week’s episode of Top Story, JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin discusses the battle over judicial reform with Dr. Iddo Netanyahu, the physician and playwright who is the younger brother of the prime minister and the hero of Entebbe, Yoni Netanyahu.
They discuss

the real issues underlying the battle for judicial reform
the United States and American Jewry and what their place is, if any, in the current crisis
the history of the left in Israel and how it impacts today
Iddo's personal history in being a part of one of Israel's most illustrious and controversial families.

You won't want to miss this episode!

Ep. 104: Kim Strassel & The Failure of the Biden Presidency Aug 03, 2023

Has any President ever failed so thoroughly domestically and internationally as Joe Biden?
In this week’s episode of Top Story, JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin talks with the Wall Street Journal’s Kimberley Strassel, author of the new book, "The Biden Malaise: How America bounces back from Joe Biden’s Dismal Repeat of the Jimmy Carter Years".
They discuss

Comparing and contrasting the circumstances and policies of the Carter and Biden administrations
How culture wars are NOT the way to win the presidency and were not why people loved Donald Trump
Could another Ronald Reagan exist again and would he even win?

Ep. 103: Richard Landes: A biased press is legitimizing blood libels against Jews Jul 27, 2023

Four toxic elements are coming together to create a rising tide of antisemitism.
In this week’s episode of Top Story, JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin discusses the factors fueling a rising tide of antisemitism around the globe with scholar Richard Landes, author of the book "Can The Whole World Be Wrong? Lethal Journalism, Antisemitism and Global Jihad."
They discuss:
- The intertwining of far-left ideology and Islamist worldview
- How the media has paved the way for lies and propaganda to enter the mainstream

Ep. 102: Alyana Meisel: American Jews should diffuse the fire, not intervene Jul 20, 2023

In this week’s episode of Top Story, JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin discussed the debate over judicial reform in Israel as well as the way American intervention in the controversy – both from the Biden administration and from U.S. Jews — Aylana Meisel, the founder of Tikvah Fund Israel’s Law and Liberty Forum.

Ep. 101: William Jacobson and Why the ADL just defends discrimination against Asians? Jul 06, 2023

Why have liberal Jewish groups protested the Supreme Court decisions that favor religious freedom and meritocracy?
In this week’s episode of Top Story, JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin discussed the hypocrisy of liberals who support the independence of Israel’s out-of-control Supreme Court but want to impeach the conservative majority on the U.S. Supreme Court. He also spoke with law professor and LegalInsurrection.com founder William Jacobson about the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent decisions on affirmative action, free speech and curbing the power of the executive to cancel student loans.

Ep. 100: Farley Weiss and Len Grunstein: The Jews are the Indigenous People of Israel Jun 22, 2023

Has this crucial aspect of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict been left out of the discussion?
In this week’s episode of Top Story, JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin spoke with Farley Weiss and Leonard Grunstein, the authors of a new book about the battle to move the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, Because It’s Just Right: The Untold Backstory of the US recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and moving the US embassy to Jerusalem.

Ep. 99: The Failure and Cowardice of Jewish Leadership w/ Charles Jacobs & Avi Goldwasser Jun 15, 2023

Why is the US Jewish Establishment focused on causes that have so little to do with Jews? Has the Jewish leadership betrayed the Jewish community?
In this week’s episode of Top Story, JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin spoke with Charles Jacobs and Avi Goldwasser, editors of a new collection of essays titled Betrayal: the Failure of American Jewish Leadership to discuss these issues.

Ep. 98: Liel Leibovitz: Israeli Judicial Reform is an Existential Crisis Jun 08, 2023

In this week’s episode of Top Story, JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin spoke with Tablet Magazine’s Liel Leibovitz who argues that the battle over Israeli judicial reform is an “existential crisis” and not just a political dispute about Netanyahu or the Supreme Court. Is Israel to be a Jewish state or a state for the Jews?
They also discuss a recent article penned by Leibovitz in which he described the rise of woke ideology about race and especially sex and gender as a new form of “paganism.”
Find out more now!

Ep. 97: Heather Mac Donald: The Black Lives Matter movement is a complete, utter fraud Jun 01, 2023

Are the policies of equity, diversity quotas and defunding the police really helping Black people?
In this week’s episode of Top Story, JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin discussed the new secular religion of anti-racism and the woke catechism of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) with Heather Mac Donald, author of the new book, "When Race Trumps Merit: How The Pursuit of Equity Sacrifices Excellence, Destroys Beauty and Threatens Lives".

Ep. 96: How the left weaponizes loneliness May 24, 2023

In this week’s episode of Top Story, JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin talks with columnist Stella Morabito about her new book “The Weaponization of Loneliness: How Tyrants Stoke Our Fear of Isolation to Silence, Divide and Conquer”.
Morabito outlines how the pandemic highlighted the way isolation could induce Americans to abandon their belief in individual rights. Was this an isolated incident? Are there other examples where ideologues have used isolation and the fear of being canceled to get society to conform? Is there a pattern that is repeating itself?

Episode 95: Biden's weakness has driven Iran & Saudi Arabia to China May 18, 2023

President Joe Biden may have come into office as a purported foreign policy expert but according to JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin he’s maintained his streak of being wrong on every issue for the last half-century.
Tobin is joined by Hudson Institute scholar Michael Doran to talk about the far-reaching consequences of Biden's weakness.

Episode 94: Melanie Phillips: The Great Fight for the West in an Age of Unreason May 14, 2023

In this week’s episode of Top Story, JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin discussed the coronation of Britain’s King Charles and its significance for the larger struggle for Western civilization with British journalist and JNS columnist Melanie Phillips.

Ep. 93: Norm Coleman & The Right/Left Divide on Israel May 04, 2023

In this week’s episode of Top Story, JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin discussed the partisan divide over Israel with former Senator Norm Coleman, who is currently national chairman of the Republican Jewish Coalition.
They discuss

Polling suggesting how Democrats have stopped supporting Israel
How and why this has happened?
The dire state of campuses for Jews and Pro-Zionists.
Coleman's journey from progressive to Republican

In Israel & America, the battle for liberty against the state | Top Story Apr 27, 2023

In this week’s episode of Top Story, JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin discusses the way American Jewish groups are recklessly intervening in Israel’s political battle over judicial reform.
He also speaks with journalist Heather Robinson on

What is the role of American Jews vis-a-vis Israeli government policy?
Can the struggle for judicial reform and the opposition in Israel be compared to the American political landscape?
Tucker Carlson’s firing at Fox News
The shift in American culture to reliance on government

Ep. 91: Spencer Klavan: Wokeness is a Pagan Religion Apr 20, 2023

JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin is joined by scholar and host of Young Heretics podcast Spencer Klavan, author of the new book "How to Save the West, Ancient Wisdom for Five Modern Crises".
Klavan posits that at a time when free speech and basic principles of equality and liberty are under attack from woke progressives, the best answer to the crisis may not be so much political as it is educational and spiritual.
They discuss

science, politics and woke ideology replacing G-d in society
the relevance and importance of ancient philosophy and faith to contemporary problems.
the riches of Western civilization must be embraced rather than tossed aside.

Ep. 90: Moshe Koppel: Despite setbacks, Israeli Judicial reform is inevitable Mar 30, 2023

In this week’s episode of Top Story, JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin speaks with Kohelet Policy Forum founding chairman Moshe Koppel about the group’s efforts to promote judicial reform in Israel.
What’s next for the Kohelet foundation? Will judicial reform ever happen?
Find out on this week's episode!

Top Story Daily: Trump’s blaming Soros for his legal woes is not a Jewish issue Mar 23, 2023

The ADL’s attempt to inject the question of antisemitism into the debate over a potential indictment of the former president undermines the real battle against Jew-hatred.
Listen to the full story now!

Ep. 89: Ruthie Blum: This is the Israeli Culture War Mar 23, 2023

In this week’s episode of Top Story, JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin speaks with JNS columnist Ruthie Blum about the ongoing fight over judicial reform in Israel. Blum says the point of the pushback against the reforms isn’t just to topple Netanyahu. They’re also attacking his voters. She characterized the battle over the issue as one that wasn’t solely one about religion but also about class and income and to ensure that Israel’s working class and religious voters are shut out of power indefinitely.
Find out what really is going on

Ep. 88: Joel Pollak & the Willful Blindness to Antisemitism from the Left Mar 16, 2023

In this week’s episode of Top Story, JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin speaks with Breitbart News senior editor-at-large Joel Pollak who discussed the famous insight of the publication’s founder Andrew Breitbart about “politics being downstream of culture.” In this far-reaching interview, they discuss

Why do liberal Jewish institutions only see antisemitism on one side?
How the ADL has made common cause with hate groups and exaggerated antisemitism statistics to justify its existence
Addressing accusations against Breitbart of antisemitism and being part of the alt-right.
Pollak’s view on the current protests against legal reform in Israel.

“Top Story” also airs on JBS-TV. Listen/Subscribe to weekly episodes on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, iHeart Radio, or wherever you listen to your podcasts. Watch new episodes every week by subscribing to the JNS YouTube Channel.

Ep. 87: Eric Cohen: Jewish values can save Western civilization Mar 09, 2023

Do Jews have a role to play in saving Western civilization? Can Jewish values pave the way to repairing today’s society?
In this week’s episode of Top Story, JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin speaks with Tikvah Fund executive director Eric Cohen who argues that “the West and Israel are under assault.” Part of the answer must be a revival of classical Jewish education that will allow Jews, "to contribute to the renewal and strengthening of American culture at a moment when it needs Hebraic remedies for some of our woke disorders”.
Listen now to the full episode!

Ep. 86: Oren Kessler: The 'Tragic Template' of Palestinian Arab Terror Mar 02, 2023

In this week’s episode of Top Story, JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin speaks with historian Oren Kessler, the author of the new book, Palestine 1936: The Great Revolt and the Roots of the Middle East Conflict. While Tobin puts the recent surge of Palestinian terror and Jewish debate about how best to respond to it in the context of the history of the conflict, Kessler explains that the events of the 1930s should help inform our understanding of the recent history of the conflict.

Ep. 85: Karol Markowicz & Bethany Mandel: Start fighting the woke indoctrination of children Feb 23, 2023

In this week’s episode of Top Story, JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin speaks with authors Bethany Mandel and Karol Markowicz about their new book, Stolen Youth: How Radicals Are Erasing Innocence and Indoctrinating a Generation. The two, who are both journalists and mothers, discussed how the coronavirus pandemic weaponized the woke left’s efforts to use tactics to silence dissent.
Both point out that the easiest victims for those seeking to impose essential racist ideas like those of critical race theory and other leftist doctrines on the country are its children who are being discouraged from the independent thinking that is essential for a healthy democracy. They each say that developing a will to resist this assault on Western values and a culture of conformity is essential. As Markowicz says, “We all need to put up a fight and we need to start now.”
Check out their new book:
https://www.amazon.com/Stolen-Youth-Progressives-Replacing-Radicalism/dp/1956007083

Ep. 84: David Bernstein: It’s time to separate government from race Feb 16, 2023

In this week’s episode of Top Story, JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin speaks with law professor and author David Bernstein about his new book, Classified: The Untold Story of Racial Classification in America.
According to Berstein, the hope that America might transcend its past history of racial division is being prevented by the efforts of critical race theorists and the vast number of people who benefit from efforts to make racial divisions permanent.
They discuss

The racist roots of US race classifications

The need to separate government from race

The permission slip race ideology gives to anti-Semitism

Check out Prof. Bernstein’s book - Classified: The Untold Story of Racial Classification in America https://www.amazon.com/Classified-Untold-Racial-Classification-America/dp/1637581734

Ep. 83: Tom Gross: ‘The Anti-Bibi hysteria is not working’ Feb 09, 2023

In this week’s episode of Top Story, JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin speaks with journalist Tom Gross about the biased coverage of Israel as well as the debate about the Netanyahu government’s proposals for judicial reform.

Ep. 82: Daniel Pipes: Violence is not the biggest threat to Israel Feb 02, 2023

JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin speaks with Middle East Forum President Daniel Pipes who believes that the failure of Israel and its supporters to insist that the Palestinians concede defeat in their efforts to destroy the Jewish is the reason why the conflict continues. Pipes also argues that the main challenge to Israel is not Palestinian terrorism, terrible though it may be. Palestinian ability to generate “toxic hostility among leftists who accept the “Palestinian narrative at the UN and other international forums that have as their goal making it a pariah state,” is a much greater strategic threat.
The acceptance of the “Palestinian narrative” among left-wing elites and those who wish to do harm to the Jewish state is a problem to which Israelis are not paying enough attention.

Ep. 81: Bernie Marcus: 'Jews who give money to Harvard are dumb' Jan 26, 2023

In this week’s episode of Top Story, JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin speaks with entrepreneur and philanthropist Bernie Marcus, the founder of the Home Depot chain of stores, to his new book, Kick Up Some Dust: Lessons on Thinking Big, Giving Back, and Doing It Yourself. Marcus believes that Americans need to rediscover capitalism and hard work and reject woke socialist myths.
He’s just as angry about what he considers self-destructive behavior on the part of American Jews, who continue to support institutions and universities that promote woke antisemitism. “Jews are not the brightest people in the world,” asserts Marcus. Just as dangerous is the fact that groups that are supposed to be defending Jewish interests, like the Anti-Defamation League and the American Jewish Committee, are, he says, “not pulling their weight,” when it comes to fighting antisemitism. He is equally outraged by anti-Israel organizations like J Street. Jews, he said, need to wake up and begin to defend their interests just as Americans need to reject the left’s toxic ideas.

Ep. 80: Jerome Marcus: A 'democratic revolution' against a court with unlimited power? | Jan 19, 2023

In this week’s episode of Top Story, JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin speaks with legal expert Jerome Marcus about the controversy over plans to reform Israel’s judiciary. The two take a deep dive into the almost unlimited power that the Israeli Supreme Court has seized.
They also talk about the need for legislation that would restore some checks and balances to a system where the justices have given themselves the right to interfere in virtually every aspect of Israeli life on the basis of nothing more than their own idea about what is “reasonable.”
In Marcus’ view the impetus for this judicial power grab is the belief by secular liberal elites that they have the right to impose their supposedly more “enlightened” beliefs on the country’s right-wing and religious majority. “The secular left thinks Israel is illegitimate if they’re not running things,” says Marcus.

Ep. 79: Gil Troy: The sky isn’t falling on Israeli democracy Jan 12, 2023

In this week’s episode of Top Story, JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin speaks with historian Gil Troy about the legacy of Theodor Herzl, the founder of the Zionist movement and critiques how understanding his journey can help inform our view of Israel today.
Tobin and Troy discuss Herzl’s relevance to contemporary Jewish life as well as the way it should influence our view of Jewish nationalism, which is not only justified but a positive force in the world. Troy also dismisses the “chicken little” hysteria from some of the new Israeli government’s critics who are wrongly claiming that the sky is falling on Israeli democracy, a stand that isn’t justified by the facts.

Ep. 77: Malcolm Hoenlein: ‘I’m tired of memorials to dead Jews’ Jan 05, 2023

JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin speaks with Malcolm Hoenlein, vice chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, about the uproar over Israel’s new government and the surge in antisemitism. Tobin argues that there are three reasons why the predictions that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition will cause permanent damage to the U.S.-Israel alliance and the relationship between the Jewish state and American Jewry are overblown.
Hoenlein points out that successful efforts to achieve Jewish unity shouldn’t be underestimated. He also pointed out that a lot of the rhetoric about antisemitism is misplaced, declaring, “I’m tired of memorials for dead Jews. I'm tired of how good the world is at expressing regret. I want it to stand up for living Jews and living Jewish state.”
Check out the full story: jns.org/im-tired-of-memorials-for-dead-jews/

Ep. 77: Fiamma Nirenstein: United Nations is a factory producing antisemitism Dec 29, 2022

JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin speaks with author and JNS columnist Fiamma Nirenstein about antisemitism in Europe. Nirenstein says that accusations about new Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni being an antisemite or fascist are untrue. She argues that the left now constitutes a greater threat to Jews than the right.
In her view, the United Nations is a factory for antisemitism and the so-called “human rights” organizations are spewing lies about Israel and the Palestinians. The writer says the future of Jews in Europe is problematic. “I’m always pessimistic about the future of Jews outside of Israel.” Nirenstein also believes that the left’s control of popular culture outlets as well as much of the media accounts for the growth of anti-Zionism among the general populations in Europe as well as undermining Jewish support for Israel.

Ep. 76: Abe Greenwald: Trump is the only person who could re-elect Biden Dec 22, 2022

JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin speaks with Commentary magazine executive editor Abe Greenwald about the future of conservatism. They discuss the need for Republicans to get to the post-Trump era as soon as possible while holding on to his populist spirit and not reverting to the policies of the failed establishment the former president displaced. Both think that Trump was the only person who could re-elect Biden in 2024.
Going into the Trump-Kanye West controversy, Greenwald says he was particularly troubled by Dave Chapelle’s Saturday Night Live monologue on the subject in part because of the way it ignored African-American violence against Jews. But more than that, Chapelle said Jews shouldn’t blame blacks for their problems. That was, Greenwald says, “preposterous,” because it was West who blamed the Jews for his problems.

Ep. 75: Josh Hammer: Do American Jews think Putin is Hitler? Dec 15, 2022

In this week’s episode of Top Story, JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin speaks with Newsweek opinion editor Josh Hammer about the war in Ukraine. While both condemn Russia’s illegal and brutal aggression, they note the widespread acceptance of the notion that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is a defender of democracy and freedom even though his government is actually engaging in repression of dissent and religious freedom.
The two break down the way politics and the Russia collusion hoax have worked to influence American opinion about the need for America to fund the war rather than seeking to stop it. Zelenskyy and Ukraine’s dubious comments about the Holocaust and pressure campaign to force Israel to join the war are also discussed They then turn to the rise in antisemitism in the United States and the tragic failure of the Anti-Defamation League.

Ep. 74: Tevi Troy: States that didn’t have lockdowns did better against Covid Dec 08, 2022

In this week’s episode of “Top Story,” JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin speaks with former Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services Tevi Troy about the failures of the public health bureaucracy during the Covid pandemic as well as the damage done to children by school closures that were supported and extended by teachers’ unions. Troy also notes that states where people valued “liberty” and had a “lighter touch” on lockdowns generally fared better during the pandemic than those states that had a heavy-handed approach.
The two then discuss the growing problem of antisemitism. Troy notes it has four sources: Anti-Israel hysteria from the left, white nationalists on the far right, Muslim antisemitism that is rooted in hate for Israel and the one that “liberals really don’t want to talk about: African-American antisemitism.” Troy also points out that the Anti-Defamation League has “fallen down on the job” in dealing with this problem because it is only focused on hate on the right.

Top Story Daily: Liberal Jewish groups have a problem with the First Amendment Dec 08, 2022

Few still oppose gay marriage. But if the state can force even creative artists to celebrate it, no one’s rights to religious liberty are safe.
Listen to full story here!

Ep. 73: Thane Rosenbaum: Liberal Jewish groups are more interested in gender-neutral bathrooms than in Israel Dec 01, 2022

In this week’s episode of “Top Story,” JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin speaks with legal expert and author Thane Rosenbaum about how best to defend free speech while also pushing back against the mainstreaming of antisemites.
Tobin and Rosenbaum talk about the need to rein in Big Tech Internet companies and social media platforms to prevent them from using their unprecedented monopoly power to skew debates and even elections as happened with the suppression of Biden family corruption stories in 2020.

Ep. 72 Michael Walsh: The ‘Great Reset’ wants you to own nothing and be happy about it Nov 23, 2022

In this week’s episode of Top Story, JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin speaks with critic, historian and novelist Michael Walsh, the editor of the new book “Against the Great Reset: 8 Theses Contra The New World Order.” It discusses the efforts of the World Economic Forum and the Davos set that attends the group’s influential annual conference to reshape society to conform to the dictates of woke ideology, radical environmentalism and socialism.

Ep. 71: Ruthie Blum: Can Netanyahu stop Biden from strengthening a tottering Iranian regime? Nov 17, 2022

In this week’s episode of “Top Story,” JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin speaks with columnist Ruthie Blum about the fallout from both the Israeli election and the American midterm elections. Blum says Israel is ready for a shift in policy on dealing with terrorism and crime as well as judicial reform from a new government led by Benjamin Netanyahu.
The two argue that a main challenge for Netanyahu will be dealing with the Biden administration’s commitment to a policy of appeasing Iran, even though the regime there is tottering. They also discuss former President Donald Trump’s prospects in the 2024 presidential race agreeing that his ego-driven attacks on fellow Republicans have undermined his case for leadership of the GOP.

Ep. 70: MIDTERM ELECTIONS: Would Jews prefer Trump or DeSantis in 2024? Nov 10, 2022

JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin speaks with journalist Heather Robinson to break down the midterm election results with particular emphasis on races in New York and Pennsylvania that she covered for JNS.
The two analyze the failure of the GOP to do as well as expected in the midterms. Robinson discusses how the abortion issue may have influenced the votes of Jewish women as well as other factors that allowed Democrats to hold on in the Northeast.
Tobin and Robinson also break down the impact of the results on the 2024 presidential race and how Republican Jews will be faced with a choice as to whether to support former President Donald Trump because of his pro-Israel record or to embrace Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

Ep. 69: Israeli Election Analysis with Ruthie Blum Nov 03, 2022

JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin and JNS columnist/author Ruthie Blum discuss the Israeli election results and what they mean for the future of Israel.

Ep. 68: Ari Fleischer: How the Internet broke journalism Oct 27, 2022

JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin speaks with former White House press secretary Ari Fleischer, author of a new book on media bias about how a partisan and untrustworthy press is not only destroying journalism but driving Americans further apart.
Tobin and Fleischer discuss how a biased mainstream legacy media is dominated by liberals who think alike and have lost interest in objective reporting. Instead, they engage in political activism, causing them to fail to understand the rest of the country. This trend has also enabled anti-Semitism since the left-wing acceptance of critical race theory and intersectionality has both undermined faith in the media and prioritized identity politics. Fleischer also makes predictions about the midterms and the 2024 presidential election.

Ep. 67: Why anti-Semitism is coming back into fashion Oct 20, 2022

JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin speaks about the mainstreaming of anti-Semitism on both ends of the political spectrum. He singled out the way popular podcaster Joe Rogan gave a platform to BDS advocate Roger Waters and Fox News Channel’s Tucker Carlson gave an hour of his program to Kanye West, an open anti-Semite as examples of how tropes of Jew-hatred are being showcased as legitimate discourse on popular sites.
He’s then joined by the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs’ Yossi Kuperwasser. The two discussed how the recent Israeli maritime deal with Lebanon is a case of the Jewish state “paying protection” to terrorists rather than making peace as well as the conflict with the Palestinians and nuclear negotiations with Iran.

Ep. 66: Behnam Ben Taleblu: You cannot stand with Iran’s women while seeking a deal with Tehran Oct 06, 2022

In this week’s episode of “Top Story,” JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin speaks with Foundation for Defense of Democracies senior fellow Behnam Ben Taleblu about the fallout from the protests against the Iranian theocratic government’s despotic rule and the ongoing efforts of the Biden administration to reach a nuclear deal with the regime.
Tobin and Taleblu both discuss how the lip service being paid to the demonstrations by women and others against the regime’s “morality police” by President Joe Biden is contradicted by American nuclear diplomacy that is aimed at empowering and enriching the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism.

Ep. 65: Rabbi Stuart Weinblatt: Is it okay for a rabbi to be anti-Israel? Sep 22, 2022

JNS Editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin speaks with Zionist Rabbinic Coalition Founder Rabbi Stuart Weinblatt.
The two speak about the troubling shift in the American rabbinate. Weinblatt warns that there are rabbis who are afraid to speak out in favor of Israel. He then explains that just as rabbinical seminaries would not admit a racist, a homophobe or a misogynist, they should not accept anyone who doesn’t believe in Jewish peoplehood and the importance of Israel.

Ep. 64: William Jacobson: ADL is mired in leftist ideology Sep 15, 2022

In this week’s episode of Top Story, JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin speaks with LegalInsurrecution.com’s William Jacobson about the Anti-Defamation League’s betrayal of its mission by including critical race theory teachings in the curricula it distributes in schools as part of its anti-hate programs. These toxic ideas are linked to anti-Semitism and hatred for Israel.
They discussed how the ADL has changed into a functional arm of the Democratic Party in recent years and become more focused on demonizing conservatives and staying in sync with liberal political fashion than in fighting anti-Semitism.

Ep. 63: Aryeh Lightstone: If Iran gets the bomb, it's America's fault Sep 08, 2022

In this week’s episode of Top Story, JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin speaks with Rabbi Aryeh Lightstone, who served in the Trump administration helping to bring about the Abraham Accords and the author of a new memoir about his experiences.
They discussed the fate of the Abraham Accords under a disinterested Biden administration and the threat of a new Iran nuclear deal. “My concern isn't whether or not the Biden administration wants to support the Abraham accords, but do they want to give $250 billion to Iran?" Furthermore, he asserts that the US is in fact the only country really pushing Iran to join the deal and provide a path to a nuclear missile.

Ep. 62: David Harsanyi: Liberal Jewish groups are the same as the Democratic party Sep 01, 2022

JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin speaks with columnist and author David Harsanyi about unjust Biden administration policies that hurt the working class and help the well-off and the rise of anti-Semitism on the left.
Harsanyi called President Joe Biden’s student loan bailout “Robin Hood in reverse.” He also said that Jewish groups' embrace of such unjust policies showed that they are “the same as the Democratic Party” and laments the rise of anti-Semitism on the left.

Ep. 61: Nathan Lewin: Is abortion more important to Jews than Judaism or Israel? Aug 25, 2022

In this week’s episode, JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin speaks with veteran Supreme Court litigator Nathan Lewin about the court’s recent decisions defending religious freedom.
According to Tobin, liberal Jewish groups are opposing the court’s stand due to partisan politics and their fear of allowing faith in the public square.
Lewin decried the willingness of Jewish groups to prioritize liberal social issues like abortion over the interests of the community, such as support for day schools and Israel as “degrading Judaism.” He also said that acceptance of woke ideas like critical race theory that oppose the principle of equal opportunity is dangerous for society as well as the Jews.

Ep. 60: Matt Continetti: 'The biggest threat to American support for Israel comes from the Left' Aug 18, 2022

In this week’s episode of “Top Story,” JNS Editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin speaks with Matthew Continetti, author of “The Right: The Hundred Year War for American Conservatism.”
The two discuss the history of conservatism, as well as the way the rise of former President Donald Trump and his populist approach to politics can be traced to trends that were part of the debate between the various strands of the movement.
While the Left takes it as a given that the Right, especially under the leadership of Trump, embraces extremism, conspiracy theories and anti-Semitism, he said that these traits exist on both ends of the political spectrum.
Continetti argued that “the biggest threat to American support for Israel, to Israel's legitimacy and I think to the success of the American Jewish community does come from the Left today and not from the Right.”

Ep. 59: Walter Russell Mead: Believing Jews control everything is a moral, intellectual deficiency Aug 11, 2022

The notion that Jews are manipulating U.S. foreign policy against American interests is false but also the product of ignorance, explains Walter Russell Mead, the author of The Arc of a Covenant: The United Israel and the Fate of the Jewish People.
He joins JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin this week to discuss how misperceptions of Jewish power are both an anti-Semitic trope and a misplaced belief in the centrality of Israel or Zionism. In fact, other nations and leaders are almost always pursuing their own interests.
Even many Jews believe that supporters of Israel influence events when the decisions of each president, including the search for the “holy grail” of Middle East peace. are motivated by domestic concerns and not either a conspiracy or an exercise in Jewish power.

Ep. 58: Batya Ungar-Sargon: 'The New York Times lied and they knew they were lying' Aug 04, 2022

In this week’s episode, JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin speaks with Batya Ungar-Sargon, author of “ad News: How Woke Media is Undermining Democracy.” The two discuss how the shift away from objectivity to open left-wing bias on the part of the mainstream media is motivated not just by ideology but also by a desire for profit.
Ungar-Sargon explained that the embrace of toxic leftist theories about race by young journalists dovetails with the desire of leading outlets like The New York Times to market itself to elites. This has led to the near-total erasure of working-class Americans and their concerns from the news pages. But it has also done the same for Jews, who are falsely classified as White oppressors.

Ep. 57: Jason Greenblatt: ‘Donald Trump was a breath of fresh air to the Arabs’ Jul 28, 2022

In this week’s episode JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin discusses how former President Donald Trump’s firing of the foreign policy establishment and disdain for the failed policies of his predecessors was the factor that made the breakthrough to the Abraham Accords possible.
According to Tobin, though those experts disdained Trump, his achievements were too important for President Biden to overturn them.
He’s joined by Jason Greenblatt, Trump’s special envoy to the Middle East and the author of a new memoir about his experiences that set the stage for the Abraham Accords.
Greenblatt explained the success of the Trump administration’s Middle East efforts by pointing to the way the experts “blamed Israel for just about everything” and treated the Palestinians “like children.” Trump’s amateurs discovered that the Arab states “felt abandoned by Obama” and found Trump to be “a breath of fresh air.”

Ep. 56: Rabbi Cary Kozberg: Reform movement hijacks faith for political progressive agenda Jul 21, 2022

In this week’s episode of “Top Story,” guest host Melanie Phillips discusses the challenges of the Reform movement with guest Rabbi Cary Kozberg. According to the rabbi, the Reform movement hijacks words like God and Torah to push its political progressive agenda with little traditional or contextual backing.
“Words like God, Torah, Israel, commandment may be used,” he says. “But as far as I'm concerned, those are equivocal terms. And they're used in service of this agenda of political progressivism.”

Ep. 55: David Friedman: 'My version of Biden's Mideast speech' Jul 14, 2022

In this week's "Top Story," guest host Melanie Phillips meets with former U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman to discuss U.S. President Joe Biden’s arrival in the Middle East. During the discussion, Friedman offers his own version of what Biden should have told Israel and Saudi Arabia and what needs to be done to attain further peace in the region.
Other topics of discussion include:
- Economic incentives for America in the region,
- Israeli relations with Saudi Arabia and
- U.S. support of the Palestinian government.

Ep. 54: Lori Lowenthal Marcus: Ethnic studies courses are marinating students in antisemitism Jun 30, 2022

In this week’s episode, JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin discusses both recent Supreme Court cases defending religious liberty and the need to “separate the state from the new secular woke religion on race, sex and gender.”
According to Tobin, this set of beliefs that is rooted in Marxism and being brought into the schools is nothing less than a secular state religion that seeks to silence dissent.
He’s joined by Lori Lowenthal Marcus, the legal director of the Deborah Project, which is suing to halt the teaching of an anti-Semitic ethnic studies curriculum in California. Marcus warns that the course is marinating kids in hatred and provides the same rationale that led to violence against Jews in the streets of Los Angeles.

Ep. 53: Yoram Hazony: 'Woke neo-Marxism won’t stop until it destroys everything' Jun 23, 2022

In this week’s episode, JNS editor-in-chief discusses the debate among conservatives over how to respond to woke Marxist cultural indoctrination and whether Yoram Hazony’s new book on Conservatism provides the answer needed to defend both liberty and Western civilization.
He’s joined by Hazony who warns that “woke Neo-Marxism” is carrying out a ”perpetual revolution indefinitely until it simply destroys everything.” He extols the virtues of personally leading “a conservative life” in which faith plays a central role and explains how his template for tradition and religion-based politics gives an answer to the left that liberalism has failed to provide.

Ep. 52: Amy Wax: 'Affirmative action is a club for enforcing woke orthodoxy' Jun 16, 2022

In this week’s episode, JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin discusses how to cancel culture is spreading from college campuses to the rest of society, including journalism and even football.
He’s joined by University of Pennsylvania law professor Amy Wax who discusses efforts to cancel her for her statements supporting Western bourgeois values and opposing multiculturalism and affirmative action. She points out that affirmative action is being used as a club to silence dissent against toxic woke ideas.

Ep. 51: Lana Melman & How the BDS Movement is a Permission Slip for Anti-Semitism Jun 09, 2022

In this week’s episode, JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin discusses how a “mapping project” undertaken by BDS supporters in Boston targets Jewish institutions throughout the state of Massachusetts, including synagogues and schools. He explains that this illustrates how the movement to boycott Israel is motivated by “pure unadulterated hate.”
He is joined by Lana Melman, CEO of Liberate Inc. and author of a new book, Artists Under Fire, about the way the BDS works in Hollywood and the entertainment industry. Melman discusses how the movement attacks artists who go to Israel and intimidates others to avoid the topic.

Ep. 50: Asaf Romirowsky: How American Universities are Turning into Radical Madrassas Jun 02, 2022

Ep. 49: Maurice Hirsch: There is no real difference between the Palestinian Authority and Hamas May 26, 2022

In this week's episode, JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin discusses how progressive Democrats are seeking to undermine the U.S.-Israel alliance and what the Democratic primaries mean for Israel. Furthermore, he explains that the war being waged on AIPAC by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) may end up dooming any hopes for bipartisanship in Israel.
He’s joined by Maurice Hirsch of Palestinian Media Watch who points out that the hate being fomented by the Palestinian Authority and its refusal to recognize Israel’s legitimacy effectively means there is “no difference” between the P.A. and Hamas.

Ep. 48: Ben Domenech: Mass shootings are a problem of evil, not politics May 19, 2022

In this episode JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin discusses why the effort to tie mainstream Republicans and conservatives to the Buffalo mass shooting isn’t just wrong; it’s a smear that does more to undermine democracy and to break American society than anything done by an extremist.
He’s joined by Fox News contributor Ben Domenech who says the problem behind mass shootings is “evil”, not politics. Domenech also analyzes the need for a stronger foreign and defense policy in the wake of the war in Ukraine and the need for Big Tech to uphold free speech.

Ep. 47: Danny Danon & How an Anti-semitic UN Can’t Be Wished Away May 12, 2022

In this episode, JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin discusses how despite the UN's lack of legitimacy and clear anti-Israel bias, it pays for Israel not to ignore it. The growing support for intersectional ideology and critical race theory on the American left fueled in part by the UN's 'Apartheid State' lie, will eat away at U.S. support for Israel if not combated.
He is joined by Former Israel Ambassador to the UN Danny Dannon who discusses his first-hand experiences being in the lion's den, his new book and what can be done to defend Israel in and outside the UN.

Ep. 46: John Podhoretz & Vindicated neo-Conservatism; American weakness and Ukraine, Iran crises May 05, 2022

Editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin argues that the Russian invasion of Ukraine is a consequence of President Joe Biden’s disastrous retreat from Afghanistan and attempts to appease Iran.
He’s joined by Commentary magazine editor John Podhoretz who discusses how recent events had “vindicated neo-conservatism” by reminding us of the dangers of American weakness abroad. He and Tobin also discuss what enabled former President Donald Trump to choose to pursue a historic pro-Israel policy shift and how the left’s turn against parental rights and in favor of silencing the view of opponents has led them to “stop gaslighting” and “pull back the curtain” on their anti-democratic objectives.

Ep. 45: Karen Lehrman Bloch & the ILLIBERAL WOKENESS Waging War on Free Speech and the Jews Apr 28, 2022

JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin says the greatest threat to free speech is intolerant woke progressives who are determined to silence anyone who disagrees with them. But he points out that the left’s hijacking of the word “liberal” on behalf of illiberal causes isn’t just destroying open public discourse.
He’s then joined by guest Karen Lehrman Bloch, the editor of White Rose Magazine, who explained that she founded the new journal to defend the principles of “classical liberalism,” after they came under renewed assault from leftists during the Black Lives Matter riots in the summer of 2020. She says her goal is to just promote free discourse but also to uphold the basic principles of the Western canon and aesthetics about the importance of beauty against those trying to destroy them.

Ep. 44: Chaim Silberstein & Media’s Role in the Spread of Fake News and ‘Disinformation’ Apr 14, 2022

JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin discusses the plague of media disinformation and hypocrisy that is eroding democracy and fueling anti-Semitism. He’s then joined by KeepJerusalem.org’s Chaim Silverstein who discusses his efforts to reclaim Jewish property in the Shimon Hatzidik and Nahalat Shimon neighborhoods of Jerusalem.

Ep. 43: Ruthie Blum: Orbán vs. Putin: Time for liberal Jews to rethink their position? Apr 07, 2022

JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin discusses how outrage about the Russian invasion of Ukraine has led to confusion about Hungarian Prime Minister Victor Orbán and whether his “illiberal” nationalism is really antithetical to democracy or the defense of the Jewish community.
He’s then joined by JNS columnist Ruthie Blum to break down the latest news about Palestinian terrorism, the American hijacking of the Israeli-Arab states summit, the dangers from a new Iran nuclear deal and attitudes toward the war in Ukraine and the Hungarian election.

Ep. 42: Ben Weingarten: Can Israel and its allies overcome Biden’s betrayal? Mar 31, 2022

JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin discusses the impact of American weakness and appeasement of Iran and how even the alliance of Israel and Arab nations who gathered in a historic summit this week can’t make up for this betrayal.
He’s then joined by journalist Ben Weingarten to break down the latest about Ukraine, the administration’s inability to define American national interests and how this is leading to certain disaster with Iran as well as the collapse of media integrity and the way the far left is taking over the Democratic Party.

Ep. 41: Melanie Phillips: Will the West sympathize with Israel the way they do with Ukraine? Mar 27, 2022

JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin discusses the new respect given to nationalism amid the wave of sympathy for Ukraine and why Zionism is just as deserving of support. He also analyzes Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s speech to the Knesset and says his attempt to pressure Israel to intervene in the war and falsification of the history of the Holocaust were unpersuasive.
He’s then joined by columnist Melanie Phillips who breaks down the latest about Israel and Ukraine, the hostile attitude of the Biden administration and the latter’s determination to push ahead with a new round of appeasement of Iran even if it means giving Russia a means to evade the sanctions meant to halt its aggression.

Ep. 40: Josh Hammer: The new axis of evil: Russia, Iran and China Mar 20, 2022

Editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin analyzes how concern for Ukraine is sweeping aside other considerations that should be determining policy for the United States and is also being used to justify selling out Israel with another Iran nuclear deal. He’s then joined by Newsweek opinion editor and legal scholar Josh Hammer to discuss the meaning of the virtue-signaling about Ukraine, what’s really going on in Hungary with the Orban government, the dangers posed by critical race theory indoctrination, and the need to reboot American conservatism to become one more rooted in promoting the common good and the national interests of the United States.

Ep. 39: Karol Markowicz: How long will Americans continue to care about Ukraine? Mar 10, 2022

Editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin discusses why Americans should care about Ukraine and the new axis of evil it has formed with China and Iran. He’s joined by columnist Karol Markowicz to discuss the conflict from the perspective of a child of Russian and Ukrainian Jewish parents, whether Americans have the bandwidth to care about this or any other foreign affairs issue for long. She then discusses her reporting and an upcoming book about the impact of the coronavirus pandemic as well as wokeness on children and education.

Ep. 38: Jonathan Tobin and Eli Lake: Russia will attack Ukraine because ‘Biden is weak’ Feb 24, 2022

Editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin discusses why the mainstream media can’t be trusted to tell the truth about the Biden administration’s appeasement of Iran. He’s then joined by journalist Eli Lake who analyzes the reasons why Russian President Vladimir Putin is escalating the crisis with Ukraine, the decline of support for a strong American foreign policy and the Biden foreign policy team’s belief in the nuclear deal with Iran is nothing less than a cult and why that’s so dangerous for the United States, Israel and the Arab states.

Ep. 37: Caroline Glick: ’Biden’s Foreign Policy is Juvenile’ Feb 17, 2022

Editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin discusses the Ukraine crisis and the decline of American influence as well as the connection to appeasement of Iran. He’s then joined by journalist Caroline Glick who discusses the failures of the Biden administration and the current Israeli government and the way she believes they are endangering the West and the Jewish state.

Ep. 36: Why are the Jews not protesting the ’genocide’ Olympics? Feb 10, 2022

JNS Editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin explains how the Jews and other people of moral decency have failed to protest the "genocide" Olympics in Beijing while human rights organizations concentrate their fire on democratic Israel.
Elisha Wiesel joins the show to discuss his activism on issues like China and anti-Semitism, the failure to generate Jewish unity on these issues and in support of Israel as well as honoring the legacy of his Nobel Peace Prize laureate father Elie.

Ep. 35: Barry Shrage: ’Anti-racism and CRT don’t represent the Jewish vision of a better world’ Feb 03, 2022

On today's show, editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin discusses the banning of Maus and the importance of not confusing censoring books with the need to fight critical race theory indoctrination.
He’s also joined by veteran Jewish communal leader Barry Shrage to discuss the backlash against woke politics and the future of American Jewry. The two talk about the changing demographics of the community, what measures help promote Jewish peoplehood and support for Israel and whether we should be more optimistic or pessimistic about the future.

Ep. 34: Doron Spielman: ’No One is as Indigenous on the Planet as the Jews are to Jerusalem’ Feb 01, 2022

Editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin discusses the lie that Jews are stealing land from the Palestinians in Israel and then is joined by the City of David’s Doron Spielman to discuss archeology, Jewish history and telling the truth about the past.
The two talk about the development of the historic site, why some oppose efforts to uncover the treasures of Jewish history and how the finds at the City of David bring the Bible to life as well as the challenges of acting as a spokesman for the Israel Defense Forces in times of crisis.

Ep. 33: Alan Dershowitz: ’Jewish Leadership is Beneath Contempt in Regards to Fairness’ Jan 25, 2022

Editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin discusses the Texas synagogue attack and whether it’s okay to discuss who is inciting anti-Semitism among Muslims. He’s also joined by author and legal expert Alan Dershowitz to discuss getting canceled for representing controversial clients including Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein and how this has impacted his ability to speak up for Israel.
The two talk about the decline of pro-Israel sentiment in the Democratic Party, the future of Zionist advocacy, the way Jewish groups and colleges are silencing pro-Israel voices to avoid controversy and the impact of critical race theory on American politics and culture.

Ep. 32: FULL EPISODE: Doug Feith and Tobin’s Take Jan 20, 2022

JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin talks about the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, Deborah Lipstadt, Harry Potter and anti-Semitism and the legacy of Sheldon Adelson.
Also, former Pentagon official and author Doug Feith joins the show to discuss the Iranian nuclear threat, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and U.S.-Israel relations.

Ep. 32: TOBIN’S TAKE: US Envoy to Combat anti-Semitism Jan 18, 2022

JNS editor-in-chief discusses the Senate confirmation hold up of Dr. Deborah Lipstadt to the position of Special Envoy to combat anti-Semitism.

Ep. 32: TOBIN’S TAKE: January 6th Commemoration Jan 18, 2022

JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin gives his hot take on what really is behind the commemoration of the January 6th riot.

Ep. 32: TOBIN’S TAKE: Sheldon Adelson Jan 18, 2022

JNS Editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin talks about the legacy of one of the Jewish world's biggest philanthropists and donor Sheldon Adelson.

Ep. 32: TOBIN’S TAKE: Harry Potter and Anti-Semitism Jan 18, 2022

JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin delves into the claim that goblins in Harry Potter represent Jews and posits that by being focused on dubious claims of Jew-hatred we are missing the real incidents of anti-Semitism.

Ep. 32: Doug Feith : ’Afghanistan sent signal of bad thinking, weakness and irresolution’ Jan 18, 2022

Former Pentagon Official and author Doug Feith joins JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin to discuss the Iranian nuclear threat, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and U.S.-Israel relations.
The two discuss the future of American foreign policy, the impact of the Biden administration’s disaster in Afghanistan and appeasement of Iran as well as the judgment of history on American efforts in the war on terror and in the Middle East.

Ep. 31: Yossi Klein Halevi: ’Anti-Zionism is a Greater Threat to American Jewry than to Israel’ Jan 11, 2022

Author Yossi Klein Halevi joins JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin to discuss relations between Arabs and Jews, the current Israeli government, the peace process and anti-Semitism.
The two talk about the potential for conflict between Israel and the Biden administration, the future of interfaith dialogue in both Israel and the United States, relations between the ultra-Orthodox and other Israelis and how to talk about Israel to young American Jews.

Ep. 30: Eugene Kontorovich : The International Community Never Cared about the Arabs Jan 04, 2022

Legal scholar Eugene Kontorovich joins JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin to discuss the way international law is used to delegitimize Israel and Jewish rights in Jerusalem and the land of Israel. The two talk about recent controversies over the Biden administration’s efforts to reopen a consulate to the Palestinians in Jerusalem, the legal status of settlements and why the international community is determined to invalidate Jewish property rights in Jerusalem.

Ep. 29: Andrew Roberts: ‘We Are Far From Out of the Woods With Anti-Semitism In Britain‘ Dec 21, 2021

Historian and author Andrew Roberts joins JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin to discuss revisionist history and what’s behind the increasingly strident anti-Semitism in Great Britain. The two talk about Roberts’ latest book on George III, about Winston Churchill and the way debates about history can shape America’s vision of itself, as well as who is thwarting British Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s efforts to bring the U.K. closer to Israel.

Ep. 28: William Jacobson: Boycotted for Publishing the Truth Dec 14, 2021

Law professor and "Legal Insurrection" author William Jacobson joins JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin to discuss how intersectionality and critical race theory are destroying academic freedom and enabling anti-Semitism.
The two discuss the way cancel culture, fueled by leftist ideology, is distorting the educational system, creating an atmosphere in which both liberals and conservatives are afraid to speak up.

Ep. 27: Jonathan Schanzer: US Media Coverage on Israel is ‘insane‘ Dec 07, 2021

Author and Middle East analyst Jonathan Schanzer joins JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin to discuss his new book "Gaza Conflict 2021: Hamas, Israel and Eleven Days of War."
The two discuss how the myths about the conflict spread by Palestinian terror groups and picked up by the media have impacted opinion about Israel and how the conflict between Fatah and Hamas and their opposition to peace with the Jewish state is ignored by the Jewish state’s critics.

Ep. 26: Daniel Asia: Wokeness will ‘destroy the arts as we know it‘ Nov 30, 2021

Composer and educator Daniel Asia joins JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin to discuss the way wokeness is undermining and ultimately destroying the arts.
The two discuss how the obsessive and misguided focus on race, the suppression of free speech and cancel culture is undermining the foundations of Western civilization as well as giving a permission slip to anti-Semitism.

Ep. 25: Cliff May: The Collapse of Journalism Nov 23, 2021

Veteran journalist and Foundation for the Defense of Democracies founder Clifford May joins JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin to discuss the threat from Iran and China as well as the collapse of journalism. The two talk about the impact of the Afghanistan debacle, the Iran nuclear talks, whether climate change is a security problem and the way partisanship has infected the mainstream media.

Ep. 24: Elana Fishbein: Fight for Education is a ‘War on Forces Trying to Transform Society‘ Nov 16, 2021

Activist Elana Fishbein of No Left Turn in Education joins JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin to discuss the grassroots effort to halt the spread of critical race theory teachings in the school. The two talk about the way woke doctrines are distorting education in America, the way it grants a permission slip to anti-Semitism and how parents can organize to fight back.

Ep. 23: Kenneth Marcus: ‘Diversity programs have made it worse for Jewish kids on campus‘ Nov 09, 2021

Kenneth Marcus (Former Assistant Secretary of Education for Civil Rights and Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law) joins JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin to discuss the plague of anti-Semitism on college campuses and his efforts to use the law to fight it.

Ep. 22: Gerald Steinberg: ‘There is no Palestinian Civil Society‘ Nov 02, 2021

NGO Monitor head Gerald Steinberg joins JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin to discuss the way Palestinian non-governmental organizations are used as fronts by Palestinian terror groups and the way international human rights groups work to promote lies about Israel.
The two discuss the recent Israeli decision to designate six Palestinian NGOs as terrorist groups and how the international human rights network has discarded its idealistic origins and now acts in concert with the United Nations and its Human Rights Council to assist the war on the existence of the Jewish state.

Ep. 21: Dara Horn: ‘People Love Dead Jews‘ Oct 21, 2021

Author Dara Horn joins JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin to discuss the way sympathy for dead Jews gives the world a permission slip for hating live ones. The two talk about her new book "People Love Dead Jews: Report From a Haunted Present" and topics like the role that the memory of Anne Frank plays in granting the world absolution for the Holocaust, the dishonest effort to claim that “The Merchant of Venice” isn’t anti-Semitic, 'Jewish heritage' tourism and myths about name changes at Ellis Island.

Ep. 20: Bethany Mandel: Anti-Semitism is the Last Hatred Allowed in Polite Society Oct 14, 2021

Journalist and social media influencer Bethany Mandel joins JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin to discuss the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on children, anti-Semitism and the way woke ideology is undermining respect for women.
The two discuss the way those pushing restrictive pandemic policies have disregarded their impact on children, vaccine mandates, how social media distorts the discussion about anti-Semitism, why Israel is singled out and the way women’s rights are trashed by left-wing activists.

Ep. 19: Michael Doran: ‘Biden doesn‘t like the Abraham Accords‘ Oct 05, 2021

Strategic analyst and former Bush administration senior figure Michael Doran and JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan S. Tobin discuss the reason behind the Biden administration’s appeasement of Iran.
The two talk about American foreign policy in the aftermath of the Afghanistan debacle, how Iran has been strengthened and its threats to neighboring countries, as well as the challenge to the United States from China and the legacy of the Bush administration.

Ep. 18: Michael Pregent: Afghanistan ‘ended US credibility in the Middle East‘ Sep 14, 2021

Intelligence analyst and military veteran Michael Pregent joins JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin to discuss the debacle in Afghanistan and the implications of the triumph of the Taliban for American security and for its allies.
The two talk about the incompetence and misguided hopes that led to the Biden administration’s decision as well as how these events will impact international terrorism, the threat from Iran and trust in the United States by both friends and foes. They also touch on what lessons Israel needs to learn from recent events.

Ep. 17: Anne Bayefsky: Apartheid Label Could Succeed in Destroying Israel Sep 02, 2021

Law professor and human rights activist Anne Bayefsky joins JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin to discuss the Apartheid Israel lie and the way the United Nations has helped promote anti-Semitism and delegitimization of Israel.
The two discuss how the 2001 UN Durban Conference on Racism became the vehicle for anti-Semitic activism and resurrecting the canard that Zionism is racism. They also talk about the UN has become the home base for efforts to demonize Israel and the way the Biden administration’s devotion to multilateralism is giving a pass to the world body’s anti-Semitism.

Ep. 16: Ruth Wisse: The Jews are facing 'the most uneven fight ever in human history' Aug 24, 2021

Author and academic Ruth Wisse joins JNS editor-in -chief Jonathan Tobin to discuss how to understand anti-Semitism, the revival of Yiddish and her new memoir.
The two discuss Wisse’s analysis of how anti-Semitism is being legitimized and why so much of the Jewish community is incapable of responding effectively to this challenge. They also delve into how academia has become the springboard for so much Jew-hatred, why anti-Zionism is anti-Semitism, how leftists are using Yiddish to attack Israel, which writer had the greatest impact on her career, her most important choice and the importance of Jewish learning.

Ep. 15: Michael Oren: Afghanistan 'will embolden Islamic extremists' Aug 18, 2021

Historian, novelist and former Israeli ambassador to the United States Michael Oren joins JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin to discuss America’s disaster in Afghanistan and the U.S.-Israel relationship.
The two discuss the impact of America’s withdrawal from the Middle East on Israel and its Arab allies, U.S. policy toward Iran, the impact of critical race theory and intersectional ideology on American support for Israel. He also talks about how Israel’s new coalition government is working, Benjamin Netanyahu, how the Knesset works and what it’s like to be a writer of both novels and history books.

Ep. 14: Elan Carr: Defining Jews as white and privileged is anti-Semitism Aug 11, 2021

Former U.S. envoy for combatting anti-Semitism Elan Carr joins JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin to discuss what needs to be done to halt the rise in Jew-hatred.
The two talk about whether former President Donald Trump enabled anti-Semitism, extremism on the Internet and confronting Jew-hatred on both the left and right. They also discuss critical race theory, his successor at the State Department, whether Hungary’s government is anti-Semitic and his experiences as the son of a Jewish immigrant from Iraq and an Iraq war veteran.

Ep. 13: Naomi Schaefer Riley on CRT, 'The Klan couldn't have done a better job at messaging' Aug 04, 2021

Journalist and author Naomi Schaefer Riley joins JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin to discuss the damage that critical race theory is doing to children. The two discuss the impact radical and woke ideas about race are having on kids and how cancel culture works. They also explore what we’ve learned about the role that both intermarriage and the decline of faith are having on both society in general and the Jewish community.
Music credit: Dolce Suono Ensemble

Ep 12: Seth Mandel: 'The ADL had ‘one job.’ It isn’t doing it.' Jul 28, 2021

Washington Examiner magazine editor Seth Mandel joins JNS editor in chief Jonathan Tobin to talk about why the ADL is failing to confront anti-Semitism, polarization and home schooling.
The two discuss how the ADL is abandoning its role as an anti-Semitism watchdog in favor of partisan advocacy, the need to emphasize that anti-Zionism is anti-Semitism, whether the Democratic Party is being ‘Corbynized,’ the dangerous impact of polarization in American politics and why more people are turning to home schooling their children.

Ep. 11: Liel Leibovitz 'I Do Not Believe in Equity' Jul 21, 2021

Author and commentator Liel Liebovitz joins JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin to talk about whether Jews are white, the right Jewish answer to anti-Semitism and the disconnect between Israelis and Americans.
The two discuss the impact of critical race theory and ideas about white privilege on the way Americans think about the Middle East. They also talk about the revival of Jewish traditions in unfamiliar settings, the essential Jewishness of Stan Lee and Leonard Cohen, the spiritual dimension of video games and what Israelis and Americans don’t understand about each other.

Ep. 10: Gil Troy: Organizations ‘Launching Full-Scale War on American Jewish Identity’ Jul 14, 2021

Historian and author Gil Troy joins JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin to talk about how toxic theories about the past are fueling anti-Semitism and undermining Jewish identity and support for Israel.
The two discuss how partisanship has given a pass to the spread of destructive ideas like critical race theory and intersectionality and how such ideologies give a permission slip to anti-Semitism. They also speak about how battles over history are impacting Jewish identity in the United States and ties with Israel and the role that Zionism and important stories – such as that of Natan Sharansky — should play in Jewish life.

Ep. 9: Elliott Abrams: 'No basis for moving forward with two-state solution' Jul 07, 2021

In this week’s episode, the Tikvah Fund head and foreign-policy veteran of the Reagan, Bush and Trump administrations joins JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin to talk diplomacy, democracy and the future of American Jewry.
The two discuss President Joe Biden’s strategies and his attempt to get closer to Iran and the Palestinians, the foreign-policy establishment in the Trump administration and the greatest threats to the American Jewish community.

Ep. 8: The growing political divide over Israel Jun 30, 2021

In this week’s episode of Top Story, Fox News contributor and former White House spokesman Ari Fleischer joins JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin to talk about the politics of support for Israel.
They analyze the way the two political parties have changed in their attitudes toward Israel and what, if anything, can be done to restore a bipartisan consensus on the Middle East. In addition, they delve into what's behind a surge in anti-Semitism and how to fix a dysfunctional American political culture. This is an episode you don't want to miss!

Episode 7: What Iran and the Palestinians Really Want Jun 24, 2021

In this week’s episode of “Top Story,” JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin is joined by Shoshana Bryen, Senior Director of the Jewish Policy Center and editor of inFOCUS Quarterly. They discuss what to expect from the Biden administration’s efforts to reinstate the Iran nuclear deal and its approach to the Middle East as well as why efforts to appease the Islamist regime and the Palestinians won’t advance peace or American interests.

Episode 6: Israel's New Government Jun 16, 2021

In Episode 6 of “Top Story With Jonathan Tobin,” JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin discusses the swearing-in of Israel’s new government and the ousting of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He asks whether it can survive and what it will mean if it does.

Episode 5: What’s behind the surge in Anti-Semitism? Jun 09, 2021

In Episode 5 of “Top Story With Jonathan Tobin,” JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin is joined by columnist Melanie Phillips.
Together they discuss the recent surge in anti-Semitism and examine the way that radical ideas like critical race theory and the demonization of Israel by leftist elites and Islamist groups have facilitated Jew-hatred in both Britain and the United States.

Episode 4: The End of the Netanyahu era? Jun 01, 2021

In episode 4 of “Top Story With Jonathan Tobin,” JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin is joined by JNS Jerusalem bureau chief Alex Traiman to discuss the possible end of the Netanyahu era as rivals Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid close in on a coalition agreement that will end the prime minister’s time in office. They consider the implications of a new government on Israel and the U.S.-Israel relationship as well.

Episode 3: Smearing Israel and the Legitimization of Anti-Semitism May 26, 2021

In Episode 3 of “Top Story,” JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin is joined by columnist and editor Ruthie Blum who discusses the way smearing Israel legitimizes anti-Semitism and Hamas. They analyze the way the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement and the associated ideologies of critical race theory and intersectionalism have given a permission slip for anti-Semitism and the demonization of Israel, especially in the aftermath of the latest conflict with Hamas terrorists.

Episode 2: The Truth about Jerusalem May 13, 2021

In this week’s episode of “Top Story with Jonathan Tobin,” the editor-in-chief of JNS explores reasons for the protests against Israel involving a controversial court case and the status of Jerusalem, as well as the way some in the Democratic Party have adopted a false narrative about the Jewish state oppressing Palestinians. He explains why in this story, as in so many others, understanding history and what it means matters if you want to get to the truth.

Episode 1: Iran and John Kerry May 05, 2021

The first episode of JNS podcast Top Story with Jonathan Tobin. This week, JNS Editor-in-chief Jonathan S. Tobin explains the ramifications of revelations that former Secretary of State and current U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry was sharing Israeli military intelligence with the Iranians.

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Think Twice with Jonathan Tobin (f.k.a. Top Story)

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected