Think Twice with Jonathan Tobin

Latest Episodes:

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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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.

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

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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

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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.