February
Gold, Silver and Geopolitics: A Packed Week on the Global Stage
Show recorded on February 23, 2026: Mike opens the show noting the rising number of U.S. troops and aircraft near Iran. Fox’s Josh Breslow interviews Ben Cohn of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, who warns a U.S. strike on Iran may be imminent.
We go to a House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution and Limited Government's recent hearing about Sharia law and you may be shocked by the number of Muslims who believe the US should be governed by it: according to the September 2024 Heritage Foundation survey, 39% support Sharia law in the US and 46% support the formation of an Muslim political party.
In Jewish Olympians news, Jack Hughes scores Team USA hockey’s gold-medal goal with his brother Quinn Hughes, Emery Lehman takes silver, and Israel’s bobsled team is disqualified.
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Shul Runnings: Ice Tracks, Identity and Israeli Pride
Show recorded on 2.16.26: This week, Mike dives into stories shaping Israel’s identity at home and abroad. Aylana Meisel-Diament, former Executive Director of the Israel Law and Liberty Forum, breaks down the significant and controversial policy shift in renaming of Judea & Samaria and non-Arabs ability to purchase land in the region and why it has sparked fierce debate both inside Israel and abroad.
Later in the episode, he shares podcaster Meira K’s inspirational account of the unlikely underdogs – Israel’s Olympic bobsled team’s rise to the world stage. The determined squad — comprised of five Jews, one Druze athlete and even a Shina Ibu breed dog — proudly dubbed themselves “Shul Runnings.” Robbed of their belongings in the Olympic Village, the team persevered. In a powerful tribute, one member competed wearing a kippah embroidered with the names of the 11 Israeli athletes murdered at the Munich Olympics. Representing a nation far better known for sunshine than snow, their journey is a story of resilience, identity, and pride under pressure.
We also examine mounting calls to remove UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese following her controversial remarks that “Israel is contrary to humanity,” and discuss broader concerns about rising white nationalist rhetoric influencing upcoming elections.
From Olympic ice tracks to international diplomacy, this episode tackles identity, policy and politics at a pivotal moment.
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Public Health, Public Controversy: Antisemitism Debates from NYC to the UN
Show recorded on 2.9.26:
This week’s episode examines a series of developments shaping the national conversation around antisemitism, public policy, and Jewish identity.
In New York City, Mayor Mamdani’s administration is drawing scrutiny as the NYC Department of Health convenes a “Global Oppression and Public Health Working Group” to examine what members describe as genocide in Israel. Former director of the Mayor’s Office to Combat Antisemitism Moshe Davis weighs in on the department’s role and its impact on Jewish New Yorkers.
We also unpack the controversy surrounding Robert Kraft’s Blue Square Alliance Super Bowl commercial, which ignited debate within the Jewish community over its messaging and effectiveness, prompting the release of alternate versions.
In higher education, a federal judge has ordered Carnegie Mellon University to disclose its Qatari funding in connection with a lawsuit alleging Title VI violations. The suit claims the university failed to address antisemitic harassment and retaliated against a former student who raised concerns.
Travel vlogger and podcaster Tal Oran shares his perspective on Israeli Ambassador Danny Danon’s address to the United Nations on International Holocaust Remembrance Day.
Finally, we explore new findings from a JFNA survey revealing that while many American Jews do not identify as Zionists, a strong majority support Israel and agree that the Jewish people deserve a state of their own.
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Day 843: The Hostage Clock Stops as Headlines Escalate
Show recorded 2.3.26: Hosts Mike and Laureen break down the week’s top headlines, beginning with the solemn moment the hostage watch clock stopped on day 843 following the return of the remains of Ran G’vili to Israel. They examine the IDF’s report citing 73,000 fighter deaths in Gaza, and the controversy surrounding International Holocaust Remembrance Day commemorations that failed to mention Jews. The conversation also turns to troubling headlines out of New York City, including antisemitic incidents such as a car ramming outside a synagogue in Crown Heights and the decision by Encyclopedia Britannica to replace “Israel” with “Palestine.”
Dan Senor speaks with Mark Dubowitz, founder of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, and foreign policy advisor Yonatan Adiri about the likelihood of American military action, potential retaliation and the broader regional fallout.
And children’s entertainer Ms. Rachel addresses the controversy after she says she inadvertently “liked” and then deleted an overtly antisemitic post. She speaks with Barak Schwartz about how the incident went viral and the backlash that followed.
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January 2026
Media Bias, Middle East Alliances and Unprecedented Change
This week’s episode covers major developments shaping Israel and the region: the return of Ran Gvili’s remains to Israel, the reopening of the Rafah crossing, and growing alarm over worsening conditions in Iran amid reports of 30,000 deaths tied to an attempted overthrow of its antisemitic regime. Advertising executive Donny Deutsch calls for leadership and accountability after Hamas supporters chant outside a Queens synagogue.
Ben Hilton of The Israel Guys breaks down a new Israel–Greece–Cyprus coalition countering Turkey, along with unprecedented changes at the Temple Mount allowing non-Muslim religious observances. The show also presents new evidence of BBC bias, featuring an interview with British media consultant David Ross and Natasha Hausdorff of UK Lawyers for Israel Charitable Trust.
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From Tehran to the U.S.: Protest, Oppression and Rising Antisemitism
As Iran dominates global headlines, this episode looks inside the country’s growing unrest against the Islamic Republic. Podcaster Barak Schwartz shares the words of an Iranian woman who criticizes activists chanting “Free Palestine” while ignoring Iran’s brutal oppression. The show also features a CBN interview with Iranian-Canadian commentator Goldy Ghamari, who says heavily armed regime forces and terrorist proxy groups have murdered thousands of civilians demanding freedom.
In the U.S., the program examines an antisemitic attack in Jackson, Mississippi, where a suspect accused of burning a synagogue laughed during his confession and called it a “synagogue of Satan.” Mike also highlights Israel’s “Stand for Freedom, Not Terror” social media campaign and New York Governor Kathy Hochul’s proposal for a 25-foot protest buffer zone around synagogues.
Finally, Mike explores both sides of the Hillsborough State Attorney’s decision not to pursue hate crime charges against three suspects accused of interrupting a religious service at the University of South Florida, instead charging them with hate crimes.
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A Week of Fire, Protests and Power Plays
Mike and Laureen break down the major U.S. and international stories shaping the week, examining the arson attack on a 160-year-old synagogue in Mississippi, where Torah scrolls were burned, but a Holocaust Torah survived. The hosts also discuss a pro-Hamas protest held outside a Queens, New York synagogue during Shabbat and controversy surrounding an event for preschoolers in New York City co-hosted by Mamdani and Miss Rachel.
In a featured interview with John Anderson, journalist and author Douglas Murray explains why much of the Arab world shows little concern for the Palestinian cause. Ben Shapiro weighs in on why it appears the Arab world is winning the global public-relations battle. The episode also covers protests across Iran as the regime shuts down internet access and satellite connections.
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Examining Christian Nationalism and Doctors Without Borders in Gaza
This week’s show opens with a look at NYC Mayor Mamdani’s first week in office and actions taken that make it a less safe place for Jews. Mike and Laureen examine the growing push for Christian Nationalism and its implications for Jewish communities, featuring Wall Street Journal reporter Aaron Zitner’s interview with Pastor Doug Wilson of Christ Church, a leading advocate for merging church and state. The hosts also unpack why Israel has barred Doctors Without Borders from operating in Gaza, arguing the organization is not what it claims to be, with analysis drawn from a narrative by Quillette’s Zoe Booth.
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Facts, Fiction and Fear: Israel, Antisemitism and the Battle for Truth
A powerful clip from Beginning Within’s Rabbi Aryeh Weinstein examines a revealing exchange between Penn State University’s Sam Richards and his students during a lecture asserting that “Palestine did not exist 200 years ago,” a claim that stunned students who view it as their ancestral homeland. Rabbi Weinstein unpacks why historical literacy matters and how emotional narratives often replace facts in today’s discourse.
The program also features Australian television host Julia Hartley-Brewer in conversation with author and commentator Melanie Phillips, examining why the Gaza ceasefire continues to falter as Hamas refuses to disarm and what that means for Israel’s security and regional stability.
Mike then turns to New York City, focusing on growing security concerns for Jewish residents and institutions as mayor-elect Mandami prepares to take office.
Throughout the episode, Mike underscores the urgent need for a proactive, positive campaign in support of Israel. He addresses and debunks accusations of genocide and apartheid, discusses the sharp rise in antisemitism in Australia following the Bondi Beach attack on Jews celebrating Chanukah, and raises alarms about the growing belief that the United States is a “Christian nation” and the troubling implications such thinking may hold for American Jews. In a lighter, seasonally fitting moment, he also reviews 11 classic Christmas songs written by Jewish composers.
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