Off the Record

For decades, the U.S.-Israel alliance has been one of the closest strategic partnerships in the world. But is that relationship beginning to change? As America celebrates its 250th Independence Day, reports have emerged that Israel is quietly preparing for the possibility that U.S. military aid may not last forever. At the same time, growing anti-Israel sentiment among younger Americans and shifti...

For decades, Hezbollah has claimed to speak and fight on behalf of Lebanon while answering to the Iranian regime. This weekend, that may have begun to change. Israel and Lebanon have announced a historic 14-point framework agreement that goes far beyond a ceasefire. The agreement commits both countries to formally ending the conflict, restoring Lebanese sovereignty, dismantling Hezbollah's mil...

The first round of U.S.-Iran negotiations in Geneva has been described as "historic." But what is actually being negotiated and who stands to benefit? In this episode of Off the Record, Zina Rakhamilova examines what happened during 18 hours of talks between senior U.S. officials and representatives of the Iranian regime. While the public discussion has centered on Iran's nuclear pro...

The White House is calling it a breakthrough. Critics are calling it another dangerous concession. After months of war, escalating tensions between Israel, Iran, Hezbollah, and the United States have culminated in a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) set to be signed in Geneva. Supporters say it could prevent a wider regional conflict. Skeptics argue it risks repeating the mistakes of previous...

Israel has been placed on a United Nations blacklist alongside organizations such as Hamas, ISIS, and Boko Haram over allegations of conflict-related sexual violence. But what evidence was used, how was the decision made, and why is Israel pushing back? In this episode of Off the Record, Zina Rakhamilova sits down with Jonathan Harounoff, Israel's International Spokesperson to the United Natio...

Israel and Hezbollah have agreed to a 10-day ceasefire, but inside Israel, the reaction has been anything but calm. From growing public anger to concerns over U.S. influence on Israeli security decisions, this moment is exposing deeper tensions about sovereignty, strategy, and what comes next. At the same time, a potentially historic shift is unfolding: a possible direct channel between Israel and...

After 21 hours of high-stakes negotiations in Pakistan, U.S.–Iran talks have ended with no deal — and major questions remain. In this episode of Off The Record, Zina Rakhamilova breaks down the latest developments, from Iran’s refusal to disavow its nuclear program to the ongoing tensions surrounding the Strait of Hormuz — a chokepoint for 20% of global energy. We also examine the role of Hezbolla...

Tucker Carlson flew into Israel for just a few hours to interview U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee, framing the conversation as “America’s Toxic Relationship With Israel.” But what actually happened in that nearly three-hour sit-down? In this episode of Off The Record, we break down the most outrageous moments of the interview — from conspiracy-laced insinuations to the dual loyalty trope and mislead...

More than two years after October 7, the questions still haven’t gone away. In this episode of Off The Record, Zina Rakhamilova sits down with journalist and author Yaakov Katz, whose latest book While Israel Slept examines the intelligence failures, political decisions, and strategic miscalculations that led to Hamas’ devastating attack. We discuss: * The intelligence assessments that said Hamas...

Welcome to another episode of Off The Record with your host, Zina Rakhamilova. This week, we unpack the escalating tensions in Iran—from mysterious explosions in Bandar Abbas and Ahvaz to the stalled negotiations over the nuclear program. Joining us is Janatan Sayeh, research analyst at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, who shares insight into Iran’s domestic unrest, regional influence, a...

Thirty days into nationwide protests, Iran has entered its third week of a near-total internet blackout. With independent verification impossible, the true scale of the regime’s crackdown remains unclear, as reports point to mass shootings, executions, and falsified hospital records. In this episode of Off the Record, we break down the latest developments inside Iran, rising tensions with the U.S....

In this episode of Off The Record, we examine the devastating crackdown on protesters in Iran and what it means for the country’s future. Zina Rakhamilova is joined by political commentator Sarah Raviani to confront some of the most difficult questions surrounding Iran today. Together, they cut through the noise to discuss the key issues, the human cost of the regime’s actions, and where Iran may...

On this episode of Off The Record, Zina Rakhamilova sits down with Or Shaked, U.S. Correspondent for Israel Hayom, Israel’s most widely read daily newspaper. They explore the pressing issues shaping Israel, the United States, and their bilateral relationship, including the rise of woke political voices on both the right and left, the dynamics of military aid dependence, and what a secure future mi...

In this episode of Off The Record, Zina Rakhamilova breaks down the week that shook the world, from massive protests in Iran demanding freedom to the dramatic U.S. capture of Nicolás Maduro and his wife in Venezuela. We explore the implications for Israel, the U.S., and global security, cutting through the headlines to uncover what really matters. Join us for an unfiltered discussion on power, res...

On today’s episode of Off The Record, we discuss former hostage Romi Gonen’s first public interview about her captivity in Gaza, her testimony of sexual assault and harassment she faced in captivity and the global accountability gap surrounding October 7.