Call Me Back - with Dan Senor

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Was the Trump-Xi summit a win, a loss or neutral?

Trump’s summit with Xi Jinping ended with no major breakthrough, no dramatic concession, and no public rupture. But according to Carice Witte, Founder and Executive Director of SIGNAL Group, that may be the real story. China projected confidence, framed itself as America’s peer, and tried to turn the summit into proof of U.S. decline. Yet on Taiwan, Iran, and regional leverage, Beijing got far less than it wanted.

Carice joins Dan to unpack what really happened in Beijing, why China wants Iran weak but intact, how Israel’s military successes have changed Beijing’s view of Jerusalem, and what Israel should do differently as China watches the war from the other side of the world.

Learn more about SIGNAL Group. 

In this episode:

- Why Beijing wanted the summit to look like a win

- What Xi’s “Thucydides Trap” message signaled

- The Taiwan concession Trump did not give

- Why China wants Iran weak but still useful

- Keeping Hormuz open and Iran non-nuclear

- China’s support for Iran and the limits of plausible deniability

- How October 7th changed China’s view of Israel

- What Israel should do differently on China
 

This episode was sponsored by Hadassah. Please go to Hadassah.org to make a gift that helps Hadassah continue its longstanding, life-changing support for the people in Israel.

Learn more about the Shalom Hartman Institute’s Community Leadership Program.

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

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This is a sneak peek from the members-only edition of Inside Call Me Back, where Dan is joined by Ark Media contributor Nadav Eyal to discuss the ultra-Orthodox revolt cracking Netanyahu’s coalition, Israel’s path to early elections, and Gadi Eisenkot’s rising political momentum.

You can access the full episode here, where Nadav takes on listener questions about:

- Gadi Eisenkot’s political limits

- Netanyahu fatigue in the Diaspora

- Why Israeli elections matter to American Jews

- Nicholas Kristof’s column and the missing evidence

- Has “blood libel” lost its meaning?

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

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Content warning: This episode includes discussion of sexual violence

How do unverified claims become a New York Times column?

On Monday, the New York Times published an opinion column by Nicholas Kristof titled "The Silence That Meets the Rape of Palestinians" — an explicit attempt to draw a moral equivalence between Hamas and Israel by alleging that both equally engage in systematic sexual violence. The piece, based on interviews with 14 unnamed Palestinians, cited a Geneva-based NGO calling Israeli sexual abuse a "standard operating procedure" and described, among other things, trained dogs used to sexually assault prisoners. Kristof quoted former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert appearing to validate the charges - but Olmert subsequently issued a statement clarifying that he did not, in fact, confirm the column's most serious claims, including that Israeli authorities directed the rape of children or that systematic sexual torture is state policy.

The morning after Kristof's column appeared, an Israeli civil commission released a 300-page report - built on more than 10,000 photographs, thousands of hours of video, and over 400 testimonies - concluding that Hamas's sexual violence on October 7th was systematic, widespread, and deliberate. The New York Times, which had been told the report was coming months in advance, published it nearly 24 hours after running Kristof's op-ed. 

Reporters who spent the day going through Kristof's column claim by claim found it largely unverifiable - no dates, no locations, no names - recycled from dubious sources and in many cases almost certainly false. The deeper question this episode asks is not simply whether the column is fair, but how something like it gets published in the paper of record at all: what is the pipeline, from NGO to press release to Pulitzer Prize winner's byline, that turns unverified claims into fact? And why does that pipeline flow so reliably in one direction? 

To answer that, Dan is joined by Matti Friedman, a former AP reporter and editor in Jerusalem, and author of the 2014 Atlantic essay "What the Media Gets Wrong About Israel" - who has spent years documenting the specific mechanisms by which NGOs hostile to Israel have shaped, and in some cases dictated, Western coverage of this conflict.

In this episode:

02:12 - What Kristof’s column alleged

09:39 - Which claims are documented, unverifiable, or implausible

14:21 - How NGO claims become mainstream coverage

17:21 - Euro-Med, activist sourcing, and the New York Times

23:47 - Matti Friedman’s warning about Western media

27:21 - The October 7th sexual violence report and the timing problem

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

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

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Five months after the Bondi Beach attack, Australia’s Royal Commission on Antisemitism is hearing testimony about what Jewish life has become since October 7th.

Dan is joined by Alon Cassuto, CEO of the Zionist Federation of Australia, and Lisa Mittelman, Director of Public Affairs, to discuss what the hearings have revealed, why the government resisted the commission before finally giving in, and whether this process can lead to real change.

They also examine how anti-Zionism is being used to exclude Jews from progressive spaces, what real solidarity requires from non-Jewish Australians, and why young Australian Jews are asking whether they can still build their futures in Australia.

In this episode:

04:21 - Why Australia’s Royal Commission matters

04:39 - What the testimonies revealed about Jewish life after October 7th

07:27 - Antisemitism from neo-Nazis to progressive spaces

12:33 - Why Australia finally agreed to a Royal Commission

14:42 - Where anti-Israel rhetoric crosses into antisemitism

20:27 - What non-Jewish Australians are still failing to confront

23:48 - How Australian Jews are experiencing the commission

32:02 - Can young Australian Jews still see a future in Australia?

This episode was sponsored by Hadassah. Please go to Hadassah.org to make a gift that helps Hadassah continue its longstanding, life-changing support for the people in Israel.

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

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This is a sneak peek from the members-only edition of Inside Call me Back, where Dan is joined by Ark Media contributor Amit Segal to discuss whether Israel’s war with Iran can be considered a success while the regime and parts of the nuclear threat remain intact, and whether Israel today has a leader, political movement, or civic vision capable of defining the country’s next chapter.

In the full episode, Amit also takes on listener questions about:

• Netanyahu’s responsibility for October 7
• How long does he plan to stay in power?
• Trump’s Gaza “Riviera” plan in hindsight
• Amit’s thoughts on his father’s controversial essay about Diaspora Jews
• Whether the country could be headed back into another cycle of repeat elections

To hear the full conversation, subscribe to Inside Call Me Back here.

Read Amit’s father’s piece here. 

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

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The Iran war is coming to an end. What leverage do Israel and the U.S. have for what comes next?

Dan Senor is joined by Ed Husain and Nadav Eyal to unpack the fragile aftermath of the U.S.-Israel war with Iran. As Washington signals that the operation is over, Iran is still testing the Strait of Hormuz, its nuclear program remains unresolved, and the regime’s internal fractures may now matter as much as its military capabilities. They discuss what Iran thinks it has won, what the U.S. and Israel actually achieved, and whether the next front is no longer the battlefield, but inside Iran itself.

Read Ed’s article, Iran is Not a Monolith: The Case for Exploiting the Country’s Internal Fractures.

In this episode:

02:42 - What “the operation is over” actually means

06:09 - Iran’s strategy at the Strait of Hormuz

08:42 - Why Tehran may believe it won the war

13:21 - What remains of Iran’s nuclear program

20:15 - Why economic pressure may not be enough

20:54 - The IRGC’s grip on the regime

29:24 - Can Iran’s internal fractures bring down the regime?

34:18 - Israel’s return to a shadow-war strategy

34:51 - The regional alliance needed after the war

38:42 - What the U.S. must do to avoid a nuclear Iran and a closed strait

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

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What is happening to Jewish Canadians, and what it tells us about the country Canada thought it was?

In today’s episode, Dan is joined by Jesse Brown, founder, editor, and publisher of Canadaland, to discuss how Jewish life in Canada has changed since October 7. Drawing on months of reporting for his six-part investigative series What Is Happening Here, Jesse explains why antisemitism in Canada feels more targeted, more tolerated, and more systemic than many outsiders understand. They discuss attacks on Jewish schools and synagogues, the role of progressive institutions and campus culture, the collapse of old assumptions about diaspora belonging, and whether Canadian Jewish life can ever go back to what it was.

Listen to Jesse’s six-part investigative podcast series here. 

See Jesse at the Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan on May 21. More info here.

In this episode:

- Jesse Brown’s life as a Canadian Jew before October 7

- Why Jesse says his diaspora Jewish world is crumbling

- What Jewish life in Canada feels like now

- How Jewish schools, synagogues, and neighborhoods became targets

- Why antisemitism in Canada feels more systemic

- Canada’s postnational identity and the politics of settler colonialism

- The role of Islamist extremism and what Canada refuses to name

- Why anti-Zionist activism in Canada has become more explicit

- Zionism, anti-Zionism, and why Jesse says the labels matter less than the harm

- The fractures inside Canada’s Jewish community

- Why Jesse still wants to fight for diaspora Jewish life

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Credits: Ilan Benatar, Adaam James Levin-Areddy, Brittany Cohen, Ava Weiner, Martin Huergo, Mariangeles Burgos, and Yuval Semo

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This is a sneak peek from the members-only edition of Inside Call Me Back, where Dan is joined by Ark Media contributor Tal Becker. In this sneak peek Tal answer a question from our community: are we witnessing the splintering of Israeli society into the two Kingdoms of Israel and Judah?

If you want to hear the rest of the episode, please consider supporting our work at Ark Media, by subscribing to our members-only feed - Inside Call me Back

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This is a news update from Ark News Daily. Subscribe here to Ark News Daily

In this episode:

• A leaked report reveals Naftali Bennett privately disparaged his alliance with Yair Lapid as a “strategic mistake,” raising doubts about whether their new joint party can successfully unify the opposition against Netanyahu.
• An Australian investigation into a deadly Sydney terror attack found authorities failed to act on prior warnings, highlighting a broader pattern of under-resourced prevention and potential Iran-linked threats across Western countries.
• Israel’s interception of a Gaza-bound activist flotilla has sparked a global narrative battle, underscoring the widening gap between accusations against Israel and its efforts to counter them through public diplomacy.

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This episode was sponsored by Birthright: Invest in the Jewish future today at onetripchangeseverything.com.
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Bennett and Lapid unite, but does it change anything?  

On Sunday, without any prior warning, Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid announced they’re joining forces, launching a new unified party called “Beyachad” — “together.” The move comes months ahead of Israel’s October elections, and it immediately raises more questions than answers.

What are they really trying to accomplish? Does this strengthen the anti-Netanyahu bloc — or unintentionally weaken it? And what does it mean for Gadi Eisenkot, who leads the other centrist party and is being pressured by Bennett to join him and Lapid?

This is already shaping up to be one of the most dramatic election cycles in Israel’s history — and one the Jewish diaspora will be watching more closely than ever.

In this episode:

6:30 – Bennett and Lapid's history

21:50 – Bennett's theory of the race

26:35 – The role of the war in the elections

31:00 – Structural strengths and weaknesses of both blocks

34:00 – Gadi Eisenkot's next move

42:25 – Avigdor Lieberman's strategy

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Credits: Ilan Benatar, Adaam James Levin-Areddy, Brittany Cohen, Ava Weiner, Martin Huergo, Mariangeles Burgos, and Yuval Semo

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Is Israel heading toward another war with Hezbollah, or is it already in one?

Dan is joined by counterterrorism expert Matt Levitt to unpack the fragile reality between Israel, Lebanon, and Hezbollah. While Hezbollah was significantly degraded, the threat never disappeared. Even as diplomatic efforts try to stabilize the situation, Israel is now actively working to prevent the group from rebuilding. 

They discuss life in Israel’s north, Hezbollah’s status in Lebanon, the limits of the Lebanese Armed Forces, and the risks of escalation. The conversation also explores new U.S.-backed diplomacy, and whether there’s a real path to long-term stability, or just a managed conflict.

In this episode:

4:20 – What the 2024 ceasefire was supposed to accomplish

5:55 – How much of Hezbollah’s capabilities were actually degraded

6:55 – Why life in northern Israel still hasn’t returned to normal

11:20 – Inside the IDF’s ongoing campaign in southern Lebanon

17:10 – Why the Lebanese Armed Forces haven’t fully disarmed Hezbollah

21:50 – Hezbollah’s role inside Lebanese politics and society today

25:10 – The threat of Hezbollah’s Unit 121 and internal intimidation

27:10 – New U.S.-led diplomacy and whether it can change the equation

36:10 – Whether Israel may need a long-term presence in southern Lebanon

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Credits: Ilan Benatar, Adaam James Levin-Areddy, Brittany Cohen, Ava Weiner, Martin Huergo, Mariangeles Burgos, and Yuval Semo

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This is a sneak peek from the members-only edition of Inside Call Me Back, where Dan is joined by insiders Nadav Eyal and Amit Segal to unpack what was actually conveyed to the Trump administration, and how expectations around regime change in Iran took shape.

They examine the gap between what Israeli intelligence assessed, what was operationally approved, and why some of the most consequential elements of the plan were never fully carried out. The conversation then turns to the debate over Iran’s remaining enriched uranium and the feasibility of rebuilding a nuclear program.

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Credits: Ilan Benatar, Adaam James Levin-Areddy, Brittany Cohen, Ava Weiner, Martin Huergo, Mariangeles Burgos, and Yuval Semo

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Will the Iran War reshape American politics? How could it affect the future of U.S -Israel relations?

Dan is joined by New York Times columnist Ross Douthat to examine how the Iran War is influencing both parties. They unpack why support for the war tracks with support for President Trump, why protests have been surprisingly muted, and how the war is accelerating existing political trends.

Listen to Ross’ podcast Interesting Times with Ross Douthat

In this episode:

- Where American public opinion on the Iran War stands today

- Why there’s been little protest compared to past wars

- How the war is accelerating political trends, not transforming them

- The growing divide on Israel within the Democratic coalition

- The emerging fracture on the right over intervention and Israel

- The generational divide among younger conservatives

- Whether the far left and far right could align politically

- What “just war” theory is and why it matters now

- What this all means for the future of the Republican Party

This episode was sponsored by United Hatzalah. Donate today at IsraelRescue.org/CallMeBack. Add this number to your phone right now if you live in Israel – 1221, and for those visiting it’s 972-2-5-383838.

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Credits: Ilan Benatar, Adaam James Levin-Areddy, Brittany Cohen, Ava Weiner, Martin Huergo, Mariangeles Burgos, and Yuval Semo

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What does grief actually look like, and what does it mean to live with it?

In this live conversation recorded at Temple Emanu-El Streicker Center on the eve of Yom HaZikaron, Rachel Goldberg-Polin joins Dan Senor to reflect on love, loss, faith, and the story behind her new book, about the loss of her son, Hersh, who was taken hostage on October 7 and later killed in captivity.

This conversation explores how Rachel understands suffering, why she rejects the idea that grief “gets better,” and how she holds onto faith, love, and what she calls “tragic optimism.” It is a raw and deeply human discussion about what remains when everything changes, and what it means to keep going.

Purchase Rachel’s book here: When We See You Again.

In this episode:

- Life before October 7 and the meaning of Shabbat in Rachel’s family

- The morning of October 7 and the moment everything changed

- What it was like to advocate for Hersh while he was in captivity

- The discovery that Hersh knew his family was fighting for him

- The night Rachel and her family learned he had been killed

- Why Rachel rejects the idea that grief fades over time

- “Toxic positivity” vs. “tragic optimism”

- What grief really is, and what it reveals about love

This episode is sponsored by American Friends of Israel Navy SEALs (AFINS). For a brief video on Buddy Line and to support the program, visit AFINS.us/warriorcare. 

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Credits: Ilan Benatar, Adaam James Levin-Areddy, Brittany Cohen, Ava Weiner, Martin Huergo, Mariangeles Burgos, and Yuval Semo

Subscribe to Inside Call me Back to listen to our 4-part series with Ronen Bergman. 
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What do we owe the stories of people who sacrificed everything, even when they did not succeed?

As Israel approaches Yom Hazikaron after two and a half years of war, Dan speaks with author and journalist Matti Friedman about one of the most iconic and least understood stories in Israeli history: the parachutists of 1944. At the center is Hannah Senesh, whose name became synonymous with courage, even though the mission itself failed in military terms.

Purchase Matti’s book here. 

In this episode:

02:40 – The real story behind Hannah Senesh and the parachutists of 1944

06:20 – The 1944 parachutist mission

08:40 – How Israel turned this mission into a national myth

14:10 – Why the mission had no clear or achievable objective

17:00 – How the parachutists understood their role as shaping a future story

27:20 – What Hannah Senesh’s life and death reveal about sacrifice

29:00 – Why the parachutists chose to act despite knowing they would likely fail

32:10 – What this story offers Israelis after October 7

This episode is sponsored by the IDF Widows and Orphans Organization. Learn more and support their work at idfwo.org.

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Credits: Ilan Benatar, Adaam James Levin-Areddy, Brittany Cohen, Ava Weiner, Martin Huergo, Mariangeles Burgos, and Yuval Semo

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This is a sneak peek from the members-only edition of Inside Call Me Back, the final installment of our four-part series with Ronen Bergman.

After the U.S. exits the JCPOA, Israel and the U.S. launch a campaign of sanctions, sabotage, and targeted assassinations, what Bergman calls “death by a thousand cuts.”

In this preview, Bergman details the AI-assisted assassination of Iran’s top nuclear scientist and why, despite the scale and sophistication of the operation, it was not enough to stop Iran’s nuclear program.

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Credits: Ilan Benatar, Adaam James Levin-Areddy, Brittany Cohen, Ava Weiner, Martin Huergo, Mariangeles Burgos, and Yuval Semo

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If the shooting stops, is the war actually over?

Dan is joined by Ark Media contributor and VP of the Hartman Institute Dr. Tal Becker to explore whether the next phase will be driven less by military action and more by political pressure, economic leverage, and shifting regional alliances.

They unpack why there’s no clear definition of “victory,” what dynamics the war has set in motion, and whether Israel and its partners can turn short-term gains into long-term strategic advantage, all while the nuclear threat continues to loom.

In this episode:

- 03:42 – Why there’s no agreed definition of victory in this war

- 04:48 – How to measure success through objectives, cost, and long-term dynamics

- 06:45 – What comes after the ceasefire and the possible paths forward

- 02:00 – How war can continue through pressure without direct combat

- 09:06 – The case for a regional alliance against Iran

- 11:09 – How Gulf states are reassessing their strategy

- 26:00 – What happens if Iran races toward a nuclear weapon

- 33:15 – The legal debate over justification, self-defense, and imminence

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Credits: Ilan Benatar, Adaam James Levin-Areddy, Brittany Cohen, Ava Weiner, Martin Huergo, Mariangeles Burgos, and Yuval Semo

Subscribe to Inside Call me Back to listen to our 4-part series with Ronen Bergman. 
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According to a recent CBS / YouGov poll, 41% of Americans think that the war with Iran is going well, while 59% believe it is going badly. 

Can a war be won when the country fighting it doesn’t agree on whether it’s going well?

As the U.S. moves to blockade the Strait of Hormuz following failed negotiations, the debate is no longer just about battlefield gains, it’s about strategy, legitimacy, and what success really means. Dan Senor brings together former U.S. Ambassador to Israel Dan Shapiro and FDD CEO Mark Dubowitz for a good-faith debate on where the war stands and where it should go next. From military progress to political will, and from alliance dynamics to endgame scenarios, this conversation unpacks the fault lines shaping the American debate.

In this episode:

• Where do things stand after the failed U.S–Iran talks and the Hormuz blockade?
• How Dan and Mark define whether the war is “going well”
• What the U.S. and Israel have actually achieved militarily
• Can the war be won if the Iranian regime remains intact
• What economic, political, and human costs should Americans expect from this war?
• How is the war affecting U.S. alliances and global standing?
• Is the best path forward to escalate, contain, or shift strategy?
• What happens if the war ends before achieving its core objectives?

This episode was sponsored by United Hatzalah. Donate today at IsraelRescue.org/CallMeBack. Add this number to your phone right now if you live in Israel – 1221, and for those visiting it’s 972-2-5-383838.

Listen to Mark’s podcast The Iran Breakdown.

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Credits: Ilan Benatar, Adaam James Levin-Areddy, Brittany Cohen, Ava Weiner, Martin Huergo, Mariangeles Burgos, and Yuval Semo

For the full episode, subscribe here to Inside Call me Back

This is a sneak peek from this week’s members-only Inside Call Me Back (Part 3 of our 4-part series on Inside Mossad’s Shadow War with Iran with Ronen Bergman).

In the aftermath of the JCPOA, Israel is forced to rethink its approach. With a military strike off the table, the strategy shifts. Mossad is tasked with finding a definitive “smoking gun” that would prove Iran’s military nuclear ambitions. That effort sets off a chain of events that leads to one of the most daring intelligence operations in modern history - the discovery and theft of Iran’s nuclear archive.

For the full series, subscribe here to Inside Call me Back

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Credits: Ilan Benatar, Adaam James Levin-Areddy, Brittany Cohen, Ava Weiner, Martin Huergo, Mariangeles Burgos, and Yuval Semo

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Subscribe to Inside Call me Back to listen to our 3-part series with Ronen Bergman. 
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Did Iran blink, or did the U.S. pull back too soon?

At the 11th hour, the U.S. and Iran agree to a two-week ceasefire, stepping back from a major escalation. Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz is set to resume under the ceasefire—but the core issues driving the war remain unresolved.

Dan is joined by Nadav Eyal and Mark Dubowitz to break down what was actually agreed to, why Israel’s security establishment is uneasy, and whether this pause reflects strategic success—or a missed opportunity.

Is this a real off-ramp…or just a temporary pause before the next phase?

In this episode:

03:15 - A Ceasefire at the Brink: What Was Actually Agreed

05:33 - The Strait of Hormuz: Reopening Under What Terms?

06:57 - The Missing Pieces: Nuclear Program and Missiles Still Unresolved

08:18 - Israel’s Alarm: Why the Security Establishment Is Worried

14:30 - Did Iran Blink—or Gain Leverage?

15:42 - Trump’s Red Lines: What Must a Final Deal Include?

21:21 - Political Risks: Israel, the U.S., and the Blame Game

35:24 - Endgames: Diplomacy, Regime Pressure, or Renewed War

This episode was sponsored by the Jewish Communal Fund. Learn more about JCF’s donor advised funds at jcfny.org.

Listen to Mark’s podcast The Iran Breakdown.

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• Want to join Ark Media? Check out our careers page for new openings.
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• X | Dan
• Dan Senor & Saul Singer’s book, The Genius of Israel
• Get in touch

Credits: Ilan Benatar, Adaam James Levin-Areddy, Brittany Cohen, Ava Weiner, Martin Huergo, Mariangeles Burgos, and Yuval Semo

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Subscribe to Inside Call me Back to listen to our 3-part series with Ronen Bergman. 
____

Will Trump’s ultimatum trigger a decisive strike on Iran—or force a last-minute deal?

As the clock ticks toward a U.S. deadline, Dan is joined by Nadav Eyal and Amit Segal to break down what comes next: a widening war, a strategic endgame, or something in between. They unpack competing military options, the role of Iran’s energy sector, the risks of escalation across the region, and whether regime change is a realistic outcome—or a dangerous illusion.

In this episode:

02:45 - Trump’s Ultimatum: What It Actually Means

05:45 - Extend, Escalate, or Strike: The U.S. Decision Tree

06:42 - Targeting Iran’s Energy Sector: Pressure vs. Shock

11:03 - Ground Forces on the Table? Risks and Realities

17:00 - No Deal, No Deterrence: Can This War End Cleanly?

18:00 - Iran’s Leverage: Hormuz and Regional Retaliation

21:30 - Endgames: Regime Change, Containment, or End

This episode was sponsored by Hadassah. Please go to Hadassah.org to make a gift that helps Hadassah continue its longstanding, life-changing support for the people in Israel.

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• Newsletters | Ark Media | Amit Segal | Nadav Eyal
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• X | Dan
• Dan Senor & Saul Singer’s book, The Genius of Israel
• Get in touch

Link to Javad Zarif article on Foreign Affairs: https://www.foreignaffairs.com/middle-east/how-iran-should-end-war-javad-zarif

Credits: Ilan Benatar, Adaam James Levin-Areddy, Brittany Cohen, Ava Weiner, Martin Huergo, Mariangeles Burgos, and Yuval Semo

Subscribe to Inside Call me Back to listen to our 3-part series with Ronen Bergman

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Is the war heading towards a ground assault or a push for a deal? To explore the possibilities, Dan is joined by Ark Media contributor Nadav Eyal and Fred Kagan, director of the Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute.

In this episode:

02:24 - Two Tracks, One War: Escalation vs. Diplomacy

03:33 - Inside the Air Campaign: What’s Been Degraded—and What Hasn’t

08:33 - Diplomacy During War: Contradiction or Strategy?

10:57 - Iran’s Mindset: Why Tehran Thinks It’s Winning

15:54 - The Strait of Hormuz: Leverage, Illusion, or Real Control?

17:15 - What a U.S. Ground Operation Could Look Like

20:06 - Energy, Escalation, and Regional Spillover Risks

24:24 - Endgames: Deal, Deterrence, or Something Bigger?

More Ark Media:

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• Newsletters | Ark Media | Amit Segal | Nadav Eyal
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• X | Dan
• Dan Senor & Saul Singer’s book, The Genius of Israel
• Get in touch

Credits: Ilan Benatar, Adaam James Levin-Areddy, Brittany Cohen, Ava Weiner, Martin Huergo, Mariangeles Burgos, and Patricio Spadavecchia, Yuval Semo

For the full episode, subscribe here to Inside Call me Back

This is a sneak peek from today’s members-only Inside Call Me Back, Part 2 of our 3-part series on Inside Mossad’s Shadow War with Iran with Ronen Bergman.

Dan and Ronen pick up where Part 1 left off, diving into the growing tension between Israel and the United States over whether—and when—to strike Iran’s nuclear program. From dramatic exchanges with Presidents Bush and Obama to deep divisions inside Israel’s own security establishment, this episode explores the early fault lines that would shape one of the most consequential strategic debates in recent history.

For the full series, subscribe here to Inside Call me Back

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Credits: Ilan Benatar, Adaam James Levin-Areddy, Brittany Cohen, Ava Weiner, Martin Huergo, Mariangeles Burgos, and Patricio Spadavecchia, Yuval Semo

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What does freedom mean when pain is still present?

As Passover approaches, Dan Senor speaks with Rachel Goldberg-Polin about how this year’s Seder lands differently. In a moment shaped by war, loss, and uneasy relief, they explore how the rituals of Passover hold both joy and sorrow—and why that tension is the point.

From the Exodus story to the symbols on the Seder table, Rachel reflects on memory, meaning, gratitude, and the challenge of holding both relief and restraint. Less about retelling the past, this conversation asks what it means to be free right now.

In this episode:

02:24 – Why This Passover Feels Different

08:09 – Setting the Table: From Slavery to Nationhood

12:54 – What Actually Happens at the Seder

16:15 – The Power of Questions (and Why Answers Matter Less)

27:39 – Bitterness, Memory, and Eating Our Pain

37:06 – Relief vs. Glee: A Moral Distinction

39:06 – Dayenu and the Discipline of Gratitude

This episode was sponsored by the Jewish Communal Fund. Learn more about JCF’s donor advised funds at jcfny.org.

This episode was sponsored by Hadassah. Please go to Hadassah.org to make a gift that helps Hadassah continue its longstanding, life-changing support for the people in Israel.

Purchase tickets to see Dan in conversation with Rachel Goldberg-Polin at the Streicker Center on April 20.

More Ark Media:

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• Explore Israel Votes
• Listen to For Heaven's Sake
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• Newsletters | Ark Media | Amit Segal | Nadav Eyal
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• X | Dan
• Dan Senor & Saul Singer’s book, The Genius of Israel
• Get in touch

Credits: Ilan Benatar, Adaam James Levin-Areddy, Brittany Cohen, Ava Weiner, Martin Huergo, Mariangeles Burgos, and Patricio Spadavecchia, Yuval Semo

Subscribe to Ark News Daily
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Are the stakes of the Iran war higher than Israelis understand?

Micah Goodman joins Dan to try and understand the different narratives that drive this war: Iran’s war against the West, the Iranian people’s war of liberation, the United States’ paradoxical relationship with Israel, and China’s hegemonic fantasies. While Israelis are primarily concerned with guaranteeing their own safety, Micah argues that the war puts all these narratives to the test, and that the stakes of winning (or losing) the war may define the future of the balance of power around the world.

In this episode:

- The “Great Convergence”: Why This War Is Different

- The U.S.-Israel Paradox

- America First and MAGA (Can Israel’s Military Beat Conspiracy Theories?)

- Trump’s War Doctrine: Strength Without Quagmire

- The Global Stakes: China, Iran, and Deterrence

- Zionism and the Bigger Meaning of This War

This episode was sponsored by Hadassah. Please go to Hadassah.org to make a gift that helps Hadassah continue its longstanding, life-changing support for the people in Israel.

Find Theodore Herzl's The Jewish State here.

More Ark Media:

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• Explore Israel Votes
• Listen to For Heaven's Sake
• Listen to What’s Your Number?
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• Newsletters | Ark Media | Amit Segal | Nadav Eyal
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• X | Dan
• Dan Senor & Saul Singer’s book, The Genius of Israel
• Get in touch

Credits: Ilan Benatar, Adaam James Levin-Areddy, Brittany Cohen, Ava Weiner, Martin Huergo, Mariangeles Burgos, and Patricio Spadavecchia, Yuval Semo

For the full episode, subscribe here to Inside Call me Back

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This is a sneak peek from this week’s members-only Inside Call me Back, which started a special three-part series on Israel’s shadow war with Iran.

The current campaign against Iran is just one chapter in a much longer war that has been taking place in the shadows for over three decades. This is the story of that war.

In this first installment, Ronen Bergman tells Dan about the first stage of the war: from the intelligence that led to the discovery of the nuclear program to Mossad’s assassinations of Iran's nuclear scientists, to groundbreaking cyber warfare. But did it work?

For the full series, subscribe here to Inside Call me Back

More Ark Media:

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• Listen to What’s Your Number?
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• Newsletters | Ark Media | Amit Segal | Nadav Eyal
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• X | Dan
• Dan Senor & Saul Singer’s book, The Genius of Israel
• Get in touch

Credits: Ilan Benatar, Adaam James Levin-Areddy, Brittany Cohen, Ava Weiner, Martin Huergo, Mariangeles Burgos, and Patricio Spadavecchia, Yuval Semo

This is a news update from Ark News Daily. Subscribe here to Ark News Daily

In this episode:

-Iran hits Qatari gas hub

-Israel fights back on the energy war

-Trump and Netanyahu see light in the end of the tunnel

-Do Jews support the war?

Mentioned in the episode:

-Nadav Eyal on Call me Back about the Strait of Hormuz blockade

-For Heaven's Sake on the Jewish world's response to the war

-NPR poll on Jewish support for the war

-Israel Democracy Institute poll on Israeli support for the war

-JPPI poll on Jewish support for the war

More Ark Media:

• Want to join Ark Media? Check out our careers page for new openings.
• Subscribe to Inside Call me Back
• Explore Israel Votes
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• Watch Call me Back on YouTube
• Newsletters | Ark Media | Amit Segal | Nadav Eyal
• Instagram | Ark Media | Dan
• X | Dan
• Dan Senor & Saul Singer’s book, The Genius of Israel
• Get in touch

Credits: 

Deborah Pardes, Andrew Tobin, Adaam James Levin-Areddy, Brittany Cohen, Ava Weiner, Martin Huergo, Mariangeles Burgos, and Patricio Spadavecchia, Yuval Semo

Subscribe to Ark News Daily
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Can the world’s most powerful militaries reopen the Strait of Hormuz…or is Iran already winning the economic war?

Eighteen days into Operation Epic Fury, Iran is increasing its pressure on the world’s energy supply chain. With the Strait of Hormuz effectively under lockdown, oil flows have slowed to a trickle, prices are rising, and the risk of broader escalation is growing. Ark Media contributor Nadav Eyal joins Dan to break down why America and Israel’s military superiority hasn’t been enough to reopen the strait, what Israel’s latest strike on Iran’s energy infrastructure signals, and whether the current campaign is quietly setting the stage for regime change.

In this episode:

06:18 – 18 Days Into War: Where Things Stand

12:48 – The consequences of Iran's selective-blockade

14:48 – Can the US reopen the Strait of Hormuz?

20:24 – The World’s Tepid Response

23:24 – Decapitating Iran’s Leadership

26:54 – Is Regime Change the Endgame?

This episode was sponsored by the Jewish Communal Fund. Learn more about JCF’s donor advised funds at jcfny.org.

Purchase tickets to see Dan in conversation with Rachel Goldberg-Polin at the Streicker Center on April 20.

More Ark Media:

• Want to join Ark Media? Check out our careers page for new openings.
• Explore Israel Votes
• Listen to For Heaven's Sake
• Listen to What’s Your Number?
• Watch Call me Back on YouTube
• Newsletters | Ark Media | Amit Segal | Nadav Eyal
• Instagram | Ark Media | Dan
• X | Dan
• Dan Senor & Saul Singer’s book, The Genius of Israel
• Get in touch

Credits: Ilan Benatar, Adaam James Levin-Areddy, Brittany Cohen, Ava Weiner, Martin Huergo, Mariangeles Burgos, and Patricio Spadavecchia, Yuval Semo

This is a news update from Ark News Daily. Subscribe here to Ark News Daily

In this episode:

- Israel hits top regime figures 

- Iranian regime showing cracks 

- Iran keeps bombing neighbors

- Trump admin aide quits to protest war

More Ark Media:

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• Subscribe to Inside Call me Back
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• Watch Call me Back on YouTube
• Newsletters | Ark Media | Amit Segal | Nadav Eyal
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• Dan Senor & Saul Singer’s book, The Genius of Israel
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Credits: Andrew Tobin, Deborah Pardes, Adaam James Levin-Areddy, Brittany Cohen, Ava Weiner, Martin Huergo, Mariangeles Burgos, and Patricio Spadavecchia, Yuval Semo

This is a news update from Ark News Daily. Subscribe here to Ark News Daily

In this episode:

- Trump shifts focus to Hormuz

- Israel plans to capture southern Lebanon

- Arab world losing patience with Iran

- Some Israeli schools open up

Listen to Nadav Eyal and Amit Segal on the latest Call me Back episode.

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Credits: 
Deborah Pardes - Host 
Andrew Tobin - News Writer

Ilan Benatar, Adaam James Levin-Areddy, Brittany Cohen, Ava Weiner, Martin Huergo, Mariangeles Burgos, and Patricio Spadavecchia, Yuval Semo

Subscribe here to Ark News Daily

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What happens if the U.S. and Israel win the war militarily, but Iran’s regime survives?

Dan Senor is joined by Nadav Eyal and Amit Segal to assess where the war stands as it enters its third week. While U.S. and Israeli forces continue grinding down Iranian military infrastructure, the bigger questions are now economic and strategic, especially after Iran effectively weaponized the Strait of Hormuz and global energy markets.

They debate whether Washington and Jerusalem share the same endgame, what success would actually look like, and whether removing Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile could become the decisive turning point.

Subscribe here to Inside Call me Back

In this episode:

09:12 — The Current Phase of the War: Grinding Through Iranian Targets

09:42 — Iran’s Energy Gambit and the Strait of Hormuz Crisis

11:03 — Oil Markets, Global Pressure, and Trump’s Political Timeline

25:18 — The Strategic Debate Inside Washington and Jerusalem

28:00 — Israel’s Ultimate Goal: Regime Change in Tehran

30:48 — Could the U.S. End the War Before Israel Is Finished?

35:18 — The Enriched Uranium Question and the “Strategic Surprise” Scenario

37:00 — If the Regime Survives: Did the War Actually Change the Region?

More Ark Media:

• Want to join Ark Media? Check out our careers page for new openings.
• Explore Israel Votes
• Listen to For Heaven's Sake
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• Newsletters | Ark Media | Amit Segal | Nadav Eyal
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• Dan Senor & Saul Singer’s book, The Genius of Israel
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Credits: Ilan Benatar, Adaam James Levin-Areddy, Brittany Cohen, Ava Weiner, Martin Huergo, Mariangeles Burgos, and Patricio Spadavecchia, Yuval Semo

Subscribe here to the What’s Your Number? podcast.
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In a Call me Back bonus episode, we’re publishing this week’s episode of Ark Media podcast What’s Your Number, co-hosted by Yonatan Adiri and Yael Wissner-Levy. This week, despite recording between air-raid sirens and shelter runs, Yael and Yonatan break down Iran’s emerging strategy of economic warfare. Instead of matching Israel and the U.S. militarily, Iran appears to be targeting global pressure points—oil and gas infrastructure, fertilizer supply chains, financial hubs, AI data centers, and the Strait of Hormuz—to drive up global costs and force political pressure. The question: can this strategy actually move markets and reshape the conflict? 

In this episode:

00:00 - Numbers of the Week

05:00 - The WYNDEX

09:00 - Big Short #1: Lebanon signals a shift on Hezbollah

11:30 - Big Short #2: Israel’s budget politics and coalition stability

14:00 - Long Play: Iran’s economic warfare and the global energy stakes

38:40 - Words of the Week

More Ark Media:

• Subscribe to to Inside Call me Back
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• Watch Call me Back on YouTube
• Newsletters | Ark Media | Amit Segal | Nadav Eyal
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• X | Dan
• Dan Senor & Saul Singer’s book, The Genius of Israel
• Get in touch

Credits: Ilan Benatar, Adaam James Levin-Areddy, Brittany Cohen, Ava Weiner, Martin Huergo, Mariangeles Burgos, and Patricio Spadavecchia, Yuval Semo

Subscribe here to Inside Call me Back

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This is a sneak peek from today's members only Inside Call me Back, in which Dan and Ilan discuss the Michigan synagogue shooting and the rise in global Antisemitism.

In the full episode:

In this Inside edition of Call me Back, producer Ilan Benatar turns the mic on Dan Senor to respond to listener questions and reflect on the surge in antisemitism worldwide. They discuss the attempted synagogue terror attack in Detroit, how narratives about Israel’s war with Iran could shape antisemitic rhetoric, and the difficult balance Jewish communities face between investing in security and investing in Jewish life.

More Ark Media:

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• Explore Israel Votes
• Listen to For Heaven's Sake
• Listen to What’s Your Number?
• Watch Call me Back on YouTube
• Newsletters | Ark Media | Amit Segal | Nadav Eyal
• Instagram | Ark Media | Dan
• X | Dan
• Dan Senor & Saul Singer’s book, The Genius of Israel
• Get in touch

Credits: Ilan Benatar, Adaam James Levin-Areddy, Brittany Cohen, Ava Weiner, Martin Huergo, Mariangeles Burgos, and Patricio Spadavecchia, Yuval Semo

Subscribe here to Inside Call me Back

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Is the Iran War actually heading toward an end, or just getting started? 

Almost two weeks into the conflict, the United States and Israel have laid waste to Iran’s external war capabilities. As the Pentagon signals the end of "Phase One," the focus shifts from destroying missile launchers to a much bigger question: can advanced technology and air superiority achieve what was once thought possible only with boots on the ground? Dan is joined by Rich Goldberg, senior advisor at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, to unpack the military scorecard, the high-stakes messaging of the oil markets, and the "science fiction" reality of modern AI-driven warfare.

In this episode:

05:20 – Military Progress: Assessing the Damage to Iran’s Arsenal

09:25 – Economic Warfare: Using Presidential Messaging to Control Oil Prices

11:05 – Breaking the Siege: Ending Iran's Control of the Strait of Hormuz

14:05 – Intelligence Debates: Is the Iranian Regime Near a Tipping Point?

26:10 – The Ground War Debate: Why Air Superiority Might Be Enough

31:40 – The High-Stakes Mission to Extract Buried Nuclear Material

36:35 – Beyond Iraq: How AI and Technology Have Changed War-Fighting

42:45 – The Future of the US-Israel Defense Tech Partnership

More Ark Media:

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• Explore Israel Votes
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• Listen to What’s Your Number?
• Watch Call me Back on YouTube
• Newsletters | Ark Media | Amit Segal | Nadav Eyal
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• X | Dan
• Dan Senor & Saul Singer’s book, The Genius of Israel
• Get in touch

Credits: Ilan Benatar, Adaam James Levin-Areddy, Brittany Cohen, Ava Weiner, Martin Huergo, Mariangeles Burgos, and Patricio Spadavecchia, Yuval Semo

Subscribe here to Inside Call me Back

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Could a buried stockpile of uranium decide the outcome of the war with Iran?

Dan is joined by Israeli journalist Amit Segal and military historian Fred Kagan to unpack reports that roughly 400 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60% may still be recoverable from a bombed Iranian nuclear site. They discuss why that level of enrichment matters, what it would take for U.S. or Israeli forces to extract the material, and why the race to secure it could shape the next phase of the war. The conversation also explores the broader campaign against the Iranian regime, the possibility of regime change, renewed Hezbollah attacks in northern Israel, and what Iran might look like if the current leadership collapses.

In this episode:

01:50 – Hezbollah’s renewed attacks on northern Israel

04:05 – The broader military campaign against Iran’s regime infrastructure

08:20 – The race to secure Iran’s buried 60% enriched uranium

12:15 – Why 60% enrichment puts Iran close to nuclear weapons capability

16:40 – What it would take for U.S. or Israeli forces to extract the material

23:30 – Netanyahu’s “surprises” and the strategy to destabilize the regime

28:55 – The rise of Mojtaba Khamenei and what it means for the regime

35:10 – Could regime change in Iran trigger a civil war?

Learn more about AEI’s Critical Threats Project. 

Learn more about the Institute for the Study of War.

More Ark Media:

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• Dan Senor & Saul Singer’s book, The Genius of Israel
• Get in touch

Credits: Ilan Benatar, Adaam James Levin-Areddy, Brittany Cohen, Ava Weiner, Martin Huergo, Mariangeles Burgos, and Patricio Spadavecchia, Yuval Semo

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How did the oppressive Ayatollah regime convince the Western left that they’re the victims?

Dan speaks with Iranian-American lawyer and activist Elica Le Bon about the ideological narratives that form (and distort) the West’s reaction to the Iran war. Le Bon explains the deep divide between the Iranian people and the Islamic regime, the cycles of protests and repression, the imperialist roots of the regime’s long-standing obsession with Israel, and the Marxist prism through which the Western left understands the conflict.

In this episode:

06:30 – Elica Le Bon’s family story and the legacy of the 1979 revolution

07:45 – Life under the Islamic regime and the experience of repression

11:05 – The gap between the Iranian people and the regime ruling them

14:42 – Why the Iranian regime sees Israel as central to its ideology

20:32 – How ideological narratives in the West shape perceptions of the war

23:42 – The “mind virus” of anti-Western and anti-Zionist thinking

26:46 – Protest movements inside Iran and the risks people face

31:04 – What a post-regime Iran could mean for the Middle East and the world

Listen to the latest episode of For Heaven’s Sake.

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Credits: Ilan Benatar, Adaam James Levin-Areddy, Brittany Cohen, Ava Weiner, Martin Huergo, Mariangeles Burgos, and Patricio Spadavecchia, Yuval Semo

Subscribe here to Inside Call me Back

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This is a sneak peek from the latest Inside Call Me Back, the members-only edition of the podcast. In this episode, Dan Senor is joined by Amit Segal to answer subscriber questions about the war with Iran and what victory might actually look like.

Has Israel already neutralized the strategic threats from Hamas and Hezbollah? Why might the political stakes of this war be higher for Donald Trump than for Benjamin Netanyahu? And if Iran’s regime weakens further, could the entire regional balance shift overnight?

To hear the full conversation, become a member by following the link in the description or visiting https://arkmedia.org.

In the full episode:

In this Inside edition of Call me Back, Dan Senor and Amit Segal answer subscriber questions about the war with Iran, the strategic stakes for Netanyahu and Trump, the possibility of regime change in Tehran, Qatar’s role in the region, and whether anti-Israel sentiment on the American right is growing. Along the way, they also discuss how the war is reshaping Israel’s alliances and why the U.S.–Israel partnership looks very different than it did in past conflicts.

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• Dan Senor & Saul Singer’s book, The Genius of Israel
• Get in touch

Credits: Ilan Benatar, Adaam James Levin-Areddy, Brittany Cohen, Ava Weiner, Martin Huergo, Mariangeles Burgos, and Patricio Spadavecchia, Yuval Semo

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Why would a president risk a war in the Middle East in an election year? 

Dan is joined by Walter Russell Mead to unpack the strategic and political gamble behind the U.S. conflict with Iran. They discuss why Trump may have chosen this moment to act, how generational attitudes toward war shape the debate, and what success (or failure) could look like. The conversation also explores Iran’s potential strategy, its impact on Russia and China, and how countries like India are viewing the unfolding conflict.

In this episode:

- 05:45 – Trump’s High-Stakes Bet on War

- 08:15 – Why the Case for the War Feels Unclear to Many Americans

- 10:25 – The Generational Divide on U.S. Military Power

- 15:40 – Why Trump Chose This Moment to Strike

- 23:20 – What “Winning” the War Could Actually Look Like

- 26:20 – Iran’s Endurance Strategy: Drag the U.S. Into a Quagmire

- 30:05 – What Russia and China Want to See Happen

- 32:10 – Why India Is Watching This War Closely

See Rachel Goldberg-Polin in conversation with Dan at The Temple Emanu-El Streicker Cultural Center on April 20 to discuss her upcoming book "When We See You Again.” Purchase tickets before they sell out.

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Credits: Ilan Benatar, Adaam James Levin-Areddy, Brittany Cohen, Ava Weiner, Martin Huergo, Mariangeles Burgos, and Patricio Spadavecchia, Yuval Semo

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Was America dragged into the Iran war by Israel, as some commentators seem to suggest?

An out-of-context statement by State Secretary Marco Rubio seems to give credence to the conspiratorial accusation that America is fighting Israel's war in Iran. Dan is joined by Nadav Eyal and Mark Dubowitz to discuss the truth behind these claims, the delicate politics behind the decision to launch the war, and how it all plays out in American public discourse. They also cover the possible succession of Iran’s Supreme Leader, the campaign against Iran’s nuclear and missile capabilities, and the broader strategy shaping the conflict—along with what outcomes Israel and the U.S. would ultimately consider a victory.

In this episode:

- 04:20 – The strike in Qom and the disruption of Iran’s leadership succession

- 06:05 – The possible rise of Mojtaba Khamenei

- 11:05 – What the past 72 hours reveal about the military campaign

- 13:25 – Why Qom is central to the Islamic Republic

- 15:05 – The emerging strategy to pressure the regime from within

- 20:05 – The debate in the U.S. over how the war began

- 37:35 – Iran’s strategy for surviving the conflict

- 40:05 – What Israel and the U.S. would consider a victory

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Credits: Ilan Benatar, Adaam James Levin-Areddy, Brittany Cohen, Ava Weiner, Martin Huergo, Mariangeles Burgos, and Patricio Spadavecchia, Yuval Semo

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How did Israel manage to eliminate Supreme Leader Khamenei and his top lieutenants within the opening strike of Operation Roaring Lion? How was the Iranian regime infiltrated? What tactical abilities were necessary to deliver the final blow? And how much of it was luck?

Ronen Bergman, senior correspondent for Yedioth Ahronoth and The New York Times Magazine, takes Dan through the story of Khamenei’s killing from plan to execution, and through the many ways in which things could have gone differently.

In this episode:

3:00 – How did Israel know where Khamenei was hiding?
8:43 – Was Iran careless?
14:50 – How did the plan to strike Khamenei take shape?
15:34 – 6am on the morning when it happened
22:01 – Sponsor break: United Hatzalah
22:57 – Immediate aftermath: What happened after the decapitation strike?
23:37 – The second and third waves of the attack
28:33 – Iran's attack on Arab states: another miscalculation?
33:25 – What's the mood in Iran?

This episode was sponsored by United Hatzalah. Donate today at IsraelRescue.org/CallMeBack. Add this number to your phone right now if you live in Israel – 1221, and for those visiting it’s 972-2-5-383838.

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Credits: Ilan Benatar, Adaam James Levin-Areddy, Brittany Cohen, Ava Weiner, Martin Huergo, Mariangeles Burgos, and Patricio Spadavecchia, Yuval Semo

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What's the state of play after the first day of operation Roaring Lion? What tactical resources have the United States and Israel deployed and what's their division of labor? What are the operation's risks and opportunities? General David Petraeus joins Dan to examine the strategic and tactical planning and goals of the war.

General Petraeus is a retired four-star U.S. Army general and former CIA Director who led coalition forces in Iraq and Afghanistan and is widely recognized for shaping modern U.S. counterinsurgency strategy. He's also co-author of 'Conflict' with Andrew Roberts.

In this episode:

- 1:00 – Khamenei killed: The decapitation strike

- 3:00 – Day one of the war: Epic Fury and Roaring Lion

- 5:00 – How a strike like this gets built

- 8:00 – The daylight gamble

- 12:00 – U.S. forces in position

- 16:00 – Regime change or something else?

- 20:00 – U.S.–Israel coordination

- 28:00 – What comes next for Iran

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Credits: Ilan Benatar, Adaam James Levin-Areddy, Brittany Cohen, Ava Weiner, Martin Huergo, Mariangeles Burgos, and Patricio Spadavecchia, Yuval Semo

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The United States and Israel have launched coordinated strikes against Iran, and the region is now at war.

In this emergency episode of Call Me Back, Dan is joined by Nadav Eyal and Mark Dubowitz to break down the opening operation, Iran’s retaliation across the region, and the high-stakes question at the center of it all: Is this about degrading nuclear and missile capabilities, or is this the beginning of regime change?

They discuss the decapitation strategy targeting Iran’s senior leadership, the possibility that Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has been killed, the international response, and what comes next. As sirens sound in Israel and ballistic missiles fly across the Gulf, this is real-time analysis of a historic turning point in the Middle East.

In this episode:

- Operation Epic Fury and Roaring Lion: How the war began

- Iran’s regional retaliation and the widening battlefield

- Targeting the leadership: Decapitation and the Khamenei question

- Nuclear reconstitution, Pickaxe Mountain, and the missile threat

- Regime change or strategic degradation?

- International reaction and Gulf alignment

- The American message and what it signals

- How this ends and what comes next

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Credits: Ilan Benatar, Adaam James Levin-Areddy, Brittany Cohen, Ava Weiner, Martin Huergo, Mariangeles Burgos, and Patricio Spadavecchia, Yuval Semo

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Rachel Goldberg-Polin joins Dan for a Purim special to explain why this is possibly the most misunderstood holiday in Jewish tradition. Rather than simply a fun masquerade for kids, Purim presents a profound meditation on hiddenness, courage, and stepping into one’s moment. Rachel walks Dan through the Book of Esther, unpacks its drama and philosophical depth, and explores why a story where God is never mentioned may be the most relevant text for a confusing, fractured age.

In this episode:

- The world of Persia and the backstory to Purim

- Vashti, Esther, and the making of a queen

- Haman, Amalek, and the logic of antisemitism

- “For such a time as this” and the Esther moment

- Where is God in a story without God?

- Masks, hiddenness, and the illusion of randomness

- Unity, generosity, and the mitzvot of Purim

- Discovering your purpose when no one summons you

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Credits: Ilan Benatar, Adaam James Levin-Areddy, Brittany Cohen, Ava Weiner, Martin Huergo, Mariangeles Burgos, and Patricio Spadavecchia, Yuval Semo 

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As American military assets flow into the Middle East and Tehran prepares its response to Washington’s demands, Dan is joined by Nadav Eyal and Mark Dubowitz to assess whether President Trump is leaning toward diplomacy or decisive military action. They break down what’s real, what’s signaling, what would be the goals and scope of an American attack, and whether Israel is preparing to take part in it.

In this episode:

3:00 - Is Trump leaning toward a strike or a deal?

3:30 - What “zero enrichment” really means and why it matters

9:30 - Pickaxe Mountain and Iran’s rebuilding nuclear infrastructure

11:00 - The scale of U.S. military deployments in the region

16:00 - Israel’s preparedness and the missile defense dilemma

22:30 - Hezbollah, Gulf states, and regional spillover risks

27:00 - Symbolic strike or regime-level operation?

39:00 - How politics, legacy, and red lines shape Trump’s decision

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Credits: Ilan Benatar, Adaam James Levin-Areddy, Brittany Cohen, Ava Weiner, Martin Huergo, Mariangeles Burgos, and Patricio Spadavecchia, Yuval Semo 

This is a sneak peek from the latest Inside Call Me Back, the members-only edition of the podcast. Amit Segal joins Dan to separate spin from substance and answer the question on everyone’s mind: is a military operation truly imminent, and how should Israelis think about what comes next?

They also discuss Amit’s political worldview and how it compares to his father’s Jabotinskyite vision.

To hear the full conversation, become a member by following the link in the description or visiting arkmedia.org.

In the full episode: 

Dan and Amit Segal take listener questions that dig deep into the Israeli divide. Will the election revolve around the Haredi draft crisis or the judicial reform? Should Antizionist Arab parties be able to run in Israeli elections? What is the future of Judea and Samaria and how long can Israel postpone the question of Palestinian statehood? And does Amit share his father's vision of a Jabotinsky right? 

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Credits: Ilan Benatar, Adaam James Levin-Areddy, Brittany Cohen, Ava Weiner, Martin Huergo, Mariangeles Burgos, Patricio Spadavecchia, Yuval Semo 

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Do most people misunderstand the true nature of Antizionism?

Dan sits down with renowned computer scientist and public intellectual Judea Pearl to understand why he coined the term “Zionophobia.” Pearl argues that Antizionism is not simply policy criticism but a rejection of Jewish collective sovereignty.

Pearl shares his personal story, that dates back to the founding of Israel, and explains how the murder of his son, Daniel Pearl, and the violence of the Second Intifada have reshaped his thinking about Israel, identity, and moral clarity. 

The conversation spans failed peace efforts, the politics of language, the meaning of indigeneity, and Pearl’s warning that Israel’s greatest long-term vulnerability may be the erosion of bipartisan American support.

Read Judea’s book Coexistence and Other Fighting Words

In this episode:

03:00 - From AI pioneer to Zionist advocate

24:00 - “Zionophobia,” not anti-Semitism

29:00 - Terrorism, moral asymmetry, and the Carter controversy

35:00 - Education as the true battlefield

38:00 - Why peace efforts failed and what was misunderstood

41:00 - Indigeneity, sovereignty, and competing narratives

44:00 - The bipartisan question and Israel’s strategic future

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Credits: Ilan Benatar, Adaam James Levin-Areddy, Brittany Cohen, Ava Weiner, Martin Huergo, Mariangeles Burgos, and Patricio Spadavecchia, Yuval Semo 

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For years, normalization between Saudi Arabia and Israel was seen as the ultimate goal of the Abraham Accords and the final step towards unlocking regional stability. But a sharp rivalry is heating up between Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed. Dan is joined by Yonatan Adiri and Yael Wissner-Levy to unpack the economic, political, and personal dynamics driving this feud, what it means for Israel, and why India and global energy corridors may matter more than most people realize.

In this episode:

00:18 - MBS’s Vision 2030 under pressure and the internal Saudi recalibration

10:40 - Mentor turned rival: How MBS and MBZ went from alignment to confrontation

18:45 - The Yemen flashpoint that ruptured the Saudi–UAE relationship

24:00 - Energy corridors, IMEC, and the India factor

28:30 - Is Israel collateral damage or strategically positioned?

34:50 - Why UAE’s “infrastructure diplomacy” may be winning quietly

38:45 - The future of normalization versus regional integration

This episode was sponsored by United Hatzalah. Donate today at IsraelRescue.org/CallMeBack. Add this number to your phone right now if you live in Israel – 1221, and for those visiting it’s 972-2-5-383838.

More Ark Media:

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• Listen to For Heaven's Sake
• Watch Call me Back on YouTube
• Newsletters | Ark Media | Amit Segal | Nadav Eyal
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• X | Dan
• Dan Senor & Saul Singer’s book, The Genius of Israel
• Get in touch

Credits: Ilan Benatar, Adaam James Levin-Areddy, Brittany Cohen, Ava Weiner, Martin Huergo, Mariangeles Burgos, and Patricio Spadavecchia, Yuval Semo 

This is a sneak peek from the latest Inside Call me Back, the members-only edition of the podcast. Following Bret Stephens’ controversial “State of the World Jewry” speech, Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of the Anti-Defamation League, joins Dan to respond directly.

Is the Jewish community overinvested in fighting antisemitism? Did institutions miss the warning signs before October 7? And can Jewish identity flourish without first ensuring Jewish security?

To hear the full conversation, become a member by following the link in the description or visiting arkmedia.org.

In the full episode: 

Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of Anti-Defamation League, joins Dan to respond to Brett Stephens’ controversial “State of the World Jewry” speech, which argued that too many Jewish resources are invested in fighting Antisemitism, rather than building a Jewish life. Jonathan, whom Bret called out by name, tells Dan that the two mustn’t be seen as mutually exclusive. The two also discuss whether Jewish institutions should do some soul searching after being blindsided by Oct. 8, whether the Blue Square Alliance Superbowl ad missed the mark, and what the data’s showing about anti-Jewish trends in America.

Read Jonathan’s op-ed, American Jews need both security and identity
Register for the Never is Now Summit and use discount code “Senor20”
Watch the Call Me Back episode from the 2025 Never is Now Summit
Watch Jonathan’s previous appearance on Call Me Back

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Credits: Ilan Benatar, Adaam James Levin-Areddy, Brittany Cohen, Martin Huergo, Mariangeles Burgos, and Patricio Spadavecchia, Yuval Semo 

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Prime Minister Netanyahu’s meeting with President Trump ended without any clear declaration about simmering tensions with Iran, so Ark Media contributor Nadav Eyal joins Dan to try to read between the lines. What did Netanyahu hope to achieve? Does anyone know Trump’s plan? Is an attack on Iran still on the table and did Netanyahu move the needle? Could the talks with Iran be just a head fake?

In this episode:

- What Netanyahu asked for in Washington

- Why Israeli officials think the Iran talks may be “dead on arrival”

- U.S. military buildup and strike contingencies

- Why Trump’s Iran policy is not about Israel — and never has been

- The China factor: oil, energy, and Cold War II

-  Will Israel participate in a strike?

- The Board of Peace and a potential Marshall Plan for Gaza

- Why Hamas will only disarm under credible threat

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Credits: Ilan Benatar, Adaam James Levin-Areddy, Brittany Cohen, Ava Weiner, Martin Huergo, Mariangeles Burgos, and Patricio Spadavecchia, Yuval Semo 

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What will Israelis really be voting on in the first election since October 7?

Today we are launching Israel Votes, a new Call me Back and Ark Media series that will be your hub for unpacking the Israeli election. Ark Media contributors Amit Segal and Nadav Eyal join Dan to set the stage, exploring how October 7, the war, coalition politics, deep social divides, and the Netanyahu brand will all play a role in the upcoming vote, which many Israelis feel may determine the character and future of the Jewish state.

In this episode:

06:45 - Why this election feels different from every Israeli election before it

08:55 - Netanyahu’s coalition problem and the ultra-Orthodox question

11:55 - How October 7 changed the political map and voter psychology

16:40 - Is this election a referendum on the past or a vote about the future?

21:00 - What Israel’s demographic and political trends mean for the outcome

26:45 - The opposition’s strategy and the Bennett factor

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Credits: Ilan Benatar, Adaam James Levin-Areddy, Brittany Cohen, Ava Weiner, Martin Huergo, Mariangeles Burgos, and Patricio Spadavecchia, Yuval Semo