The Jewish People's Podcast

As Americans mark Independence Day, Gil Troy is joined by Dr. Anat Wilf for a special July 4th edition of the JPPI Podcast. Together, they examine the growing claims of a rupture in U.S.-Israel relations, asking whether recent political tensions represent a genuine strategic break or simply another chapter in a relationship that has weathered far greater storms. Drawing on history, diplomacy, and...

In this episode, Yaakov speaks with Natalie Ecanow, a senior research analyst at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, about her new report tracing what she estimates is at least $400 billion in Qatari spending, investments, lobbying, grants, and commercial activity across the United States. From defense and energy to higher education, media, technology, sports, and even K-12 classrooms, Qata...

A new Iran deal has left Israel alarmed and raised difficult questions about the future of the U.S.-Israel relationship. Gil Troy and Lt.-Col. (res.) Or Horvitz join Yaakov to unpack what is actually in the deal, how dangerous it could be, why President Trump has turned so sharply against Netanyahu, and whether there is any reason to see a silver lining in this new Middle East reality.

Has the Middle East fundamentally changed over the last two years? Yaakov Katz speaks with Nadim Koteich, a leading Arab journalist, former General Manager of Sky News Arabia and columnist for Asharq Al-Awsat, about Iran, Hezbollah, Lebanon, and what the region might look like after the wars that have reshaped it.

This week, IDF troops reached the Beaufort Ridge in Lebanon. But is that a victory? Yaakov Katz speaks with Dr. Seth Frantzman about Israel's endgame in Lebanon, the risk of a prolonged military presence, and how drone warfare is changing the battlefield.

As ceasefire talks continue and tensions grow with Iran, what are ordinary Iranians actually thinking? In this episode, Yaakov speaks with Iranian-Canadian journalist and analyst Negar Mojtahedi about life inside Iran, how people view the regime, whether they want the US or Israel to strike and why another uprising has not happened.

As a new a new Iran deal nears, for Israel, the key question is simple: will this agreement actually stop Iran’s nuclear ambitions – or merely delay them? On this episode, Yaakov, Shmuel Rosner and Gil Troy break down the emerging deal, what it means for Israel’s security, and whether Jerusalem is once again being asked to live with a dangerous compromise.

Former Canadian ambassador to Israel Vivian Bercovici joins Yaakov Katz for a candid conversation about the alarming rise of antisemitism in Canada following October 7. Once considered one of the safest places in the world for Jews, Jews fear what the future holds.

Europe is entering a period of political change. From new leadership in Hungary and growing debates over sanctions on Israeli settlers to broader questions about the EU’s role in regional security and diplomacy, Prof. Sharon Pardo joins Yaakov to unpack how Europe views Israel, Iran, and the rapidly changing Middle East.

Following a series of troubling incidents involving Christian clergy in Jerusalem – including the reported blocking of Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, from celebrating Palm Sunday Mass at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre – Yaakov speaks with JPPI’s Prof. Michal Bar-Asher Siegal about the growing strain on Jewish-Christian relations in Israel and the disappearanc...

In this episode, Yaakov speaks to Gal Beckerman about his new book, How to be a Dissident, and what its message means for countries around the world grappling with their future, including Israel as it heads toward another uncertain election. Beckerman argues that the real test of dissent isn’t theoretical. It’s personal: when the pressure builds, will you stand apart – or go along?

What should Israel’s long-term strategy look like after October 7? Drawing on the Henry Jackson Society’s “Israel 2048” report, Barak Seener joins Yaakov to lay out a vision for shifting from reactive deterrence to proactive power projection – integrating military strength with regional alliances, economic corridors, and technological leadership. The conversation explores whether Israel can transl...

Who won the war with Iran – and what comes next? Yaakov is joined by Avner Vilan, who spent two decades inside Israel’s defense and intelligence establishment working to undermine Iran’s nuclear program. Together, they break down what was achieved, what wasn’t, and where things go from here.

Israel and the U.S. inflicted serious damage on Iran’s military and nuclear infrastructure – but was that enough to change the region for good? In this episode, Gil Troy and Shmuel Rosner join Yaakov to discuss whether the battlefield gains can now be turned into a real strategic success through diplomacy, pressure on the regime, and the high-stakes negotiations still to come.

As the regional landscape continues to shift, our expert panel will provide critical insights into the military, political, and diplomatic dimensions of the war, as well as the broader implications for Israel’s security and international standing. The discussion will feature a distinguished group of JPPI experts and senior figures with decades of experience at the highest levels of government, int...

What have we really learned from Iran’s missile campaign? In this episode, missile expert Tal Inbar breaks down why cluster munitions are so difficult to intercept, how Israel’s air defense systems are performing under real wartime pressure, and what this all means for the future of Israeli strategy - including the growing case for a dedicated offensive missile corps.

As the war drags on, the big questions are only getting sharper: Is there a real strategy? What does victory actually look like? And how long can Israeli society sustain this? I’m joined by Shmuel Rosner and Gil Troy for a candid conversation about the gap between goals and reality, how this war might end, and the limits of national resilience.

What does “winning” a war with Iran actually mean? Dennis Ross breaks down the possible endgames - from nuclear concessions to control of the Strait of Hormuz - and what the conflict means for U.S. politics and regional normalization.

As Israel continues to fight a war on multiple fronts, a critical question is emerging at home: What kind of country is it becoming in the process? In this episode, Yaakov speaks with Prof. Dan Ben-David of the Shoresh Institute and Tel Aviv University about the government’s decision to allocate 5 billion shekels to the Haredi sector in the middle of the war — and what that reveals about Israel’s...

As Israel fights a historic war with Iran, deeper questions are emerging about the country’s future. What kind of Israel will take shape after this conflict? What does the war reveal about Israel’s strengths and limits? And as the country moves toward another election cycle, how might the war reshape its politics and leadership? To unpack these questions, Yakkov is joined by Dr. Einat Wilf - forme...

On day 13 of the war with Iran, where does the campaign stand? Have Israel and the United States achieved their core objectives, and what still remains unresolved? Yaakov Katz is joined by JPPI senior fellows Shmuel Rosner and LTC (Ret.) Or Horvitz for a strategic look at the war so far, the pressure points ahead, and whether there is any risk of divergence between Jerusalem and the Trump administ...

As the war continues to reshape the Middle East, a critical question remains: what happened to the 450 kg of highly enriched uranium Iran reportedly buried under Isfahan? To explore the strategic and technical realities of this challenge, Yaakov speaks with Avner Vilan, who spent two decades inside Israel’s intelligence and defense communities focused on disrupting Iran’s nuclear ambitions. He pro...

Former IDF international spokesperson Lt. Col. (res.) Peter Lerner joins the podcast to discuss Israel’s wartime communication strategy. We discuss why Israel communicates differently than the US, how misinformation and AI videos shape coverage, and what questions the media should really be asking.

Gil Troy and Shmuel Rosner join Yaakov to discuss the latest developments in the war with Iran, the resilience of the Trump–Netanyahu relationship, and new polling on American Jewish support for the war - and what it could mean for Israel’s growing election debate.

Missiles are flying across the Middle East - and American defense systems are stopping many of them. But interceptors are limited. Bradley Bowman, Senior Director of the Center on Military and Political Power at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, joins Yaakov to examine whether the U.S. and its allies have enough missile defense capabilities to sustain a long war with Iran.