Third Opinion Podcast

This week, the hosts tackle the fallout from Zohran Mamdani's election in NYC and the controversy over CAIR's support. Jewish leaders including Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch and Amb. Michael Oren and  voices including Sen. Ted Cruz and commentator Ben Shapiro warn of growing threats, as the ADL and AJC closely monitor Mamdani's activities. In the Middle East, a fragile Gaza ceasefire leaves Hamas fighters t...

This week, the hosts dive into the New York mayoral race and what's driving voters in the city. Laureen speaks with Jerusalem Post editor Yaakov Katz, who doesn't pull any punches about what Netanyahu's legacy will be because of October 7.  They also discuss British podcaster Tommy Robinson's visit to an Arab business district in Israel and asks how they feel about their county. Mike and Laureen u...

Recorded 10/27/2025: This episode unpacks a tense moment in world and local affairs. We begin with the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Gaza and what it means for regional stability. Then, the hosts turn to New York City, where early voting in the mayoral race is underway and the frontrunner's record has sparked considerable concerns about anti-Zionism and antisemitism. Finally, we sit down wi...

  Show recorded on October 20, 2025. Retired U.S. Army Colonel John Spencer, Chair of Urban Warfare at West Point's Modern War Institute, joins the show after returning from Gaza City. He discusses Hamas's recruitment tactics, inflated casualty reports and the vast tunnel networks hidden beneath hospitals and schools. Bill Maher calls for educating young Americans on the Middle East, reaffirming I...

This week, Mike and Laureen dive into the complex aftermath of the hostage release deal between Israel and Hamas — celebrating lives saved while questioning the cost of freeing convicted murderers. They examine the troubling rise of anti-Israel sentiment and the disturbing glorification of and outpouring of support for Hamas in America, Canada, England and elsewhere. With insights from Rabbi Pincu...

This week, hosts Mike and Laureen dive into the proposed deal to free the remaining hostages held by Hamas and explore the historic reasons why a Palestinian state has never emerged. They share powerful clips, including Australian commentator Julie Hartley-Brewer calling out British Prime Minister Keir Starmer for his stance on recognizing Palestine following the Manchester synagogue attack, and N...

Mike and Laureen break down the week's most pressing developments in the Middle East — where narratives and realities collide on the world stage. The hosts tackle and debunk false genocide accusations leveled against Israel, while the dramatic walkout of world leaders during Prime Minister Netanyahu's UN address underscores the deep divisions at the international level. They track the controversia...

In this powerful episode, Mike and Laureen break down a heated debate where Ben Shapiro confronts Mohammad Hijab and Piers Morgan on the Israel-Palestine conflict. Citing the reality of hostages in Gaza, Hamas' stranglehold on the region and repeated Palestinian rejections of statehood, Shapiro defends Israel's right to exist and dismantles the narrative blaming Israel for the suffering in Gaza. T...

Mike and Laureen dig into the controversy around Charlie Kirk: was he standing up for the Jewish community or crossing a dangerous line? Former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett appears on Sky TV, an Australian network, and clarifies the truth about the terrorist organization that is Hamas.  And the hosts unravel a troubling story about a child's death blamed on the IDF — a blood libel claim...

YouTuber Oren Cahanovitc of Traveling Israel highlights the surge of new sweet shops and restaurants opening in Gaza — challenging claims that Israel is causing a famine in the region. Rabbi Pesach Wolicki unpacks the newly released Dynah Project report, which documents the rape, torture and humiliation of Israeli hostages, supported by eyewitness testimony and Hamas's own video evidence. Hosts Mi...

This week, Mike and Laureen confront the dangerous spread of misinformation about famine in Gaza, including interviews with Sky News contributors Danica DiGorgio and Will Kingston, who highlight the urgent need to fact-check false United Nations claims made through the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC). The hosts reveal how such narratives echo age-old blood libels, fueling moder...

This week's show features Shabbos Kestenbaum, a former Harvard Divinity student sued the university over its failure to address rampant antisemitism on campus. Justin Hilton of The Israel Guys challenges the international narrative about famine in Gaza, pointing to the massive amounts of aid Israel has facilitated despite global accusations. Hosts Mike and Laureen unpack the week's headlines: an I...

This week, Mike and Laureen break down the latest headlines shaping the conversation around Israel and the Middle East. They examine the Democratic Socialists of America's 2025 national convention and the passing of a resolution on the Palestinian "right of return." The hosts explore whether Western journalists should be allowed into Gaza to report freely and uncover the real story behind Anas Al-...

This week, Mike and Laureen examine global reactions to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's plan to take over Gaza City, including U.S Secretary of State Marco Rubio's forceful rebuttal of antisemitic "blood libel" claims circulating in Europe. U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee discusses the humanitarian aid flowing into Gaza through Israel, condemns the UK, Ireland and Netherlands for not s...

This week, Mike is flying solo and tackling a packed slate of topics. He addresses the controversial claim that Israel is starving Gazans — debunking viral misinformation, including a widely shared photo of a child that turns out to be false. As France moves toward recognizing a Palestinian state, Mike scrutinizes the spread of propaganda and acknowledges the real suffering while challenging the n...

Allegations that Israel is causing a famine in Gaza have spread rapidly - but the facts tell a very different story. In this episode, Mike and Laureen confront the latest blood libel: claims that IDF soldiers are shooting Palestinians trying to get food. Featuring Oliver "Ollie" Anisfeld, founder and executive producer of J-TV, on combating the demonization of Israel in Western media and the urgen...

This week's episode features an interview with author Mark D. Friedman about his latest book, "Come On, Let's Reason," detailing why many younger Jews feel disconnected from traditional Judaism — and why embracing Jewish identity doesn't have to mean following all 613 commandments. Friedman offers a thoughtful perspective on how Judaism can evolve without losing its core.  We also highlight a stri...

The Israel-Hamas ceasefire remains in limbo, raising urgent questions: What does each side truly want from a ceasefire — and who gets to define its success? As families continue to plead for the return of all hostages, both living and deceased, international pressure mounts while domestic divisions intensify. We hear from Shosh Bedrosian of Israel TV (ILTV) and Eric Mandel of the Middle East Polit...

As proposed peace talks between Israel and Hamas shift by the hour, Mike and Laureen break down the latest developments and where negotiations currently stand. They also examine how Jewish voters are weighing their choices in the New York mayoral race—especially with a prominent anti-Israel candidate in the mix. Plus, the hosts discuss behind-the-scenes diplomacy between Israeli and Saudi delegati...

Mike and Laureen analyze the political rise of Zohran Mamdani, winner of New York City's Democratic mayoral primary, and examine the implications of his controversial views. Then, they turn to the U.S. military strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities and share expert insights on damage assessments by Col. Richard Kemp, a former British commander in Afghanistan, on how Gazans view Hamas; Jim Sciutto,...

Mike and Laureen delve into the United States' massive and clandestine military strikes in Iran. They explore the implications and strategic motivations behind these tactical maneuvers with key experts: Benham Ben Talibu, Senior Iran Analyst with Foundation for Defense of Democracies; General Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; Arizona Senator Mark Kelly; and James Acton, co-director...

Mike and Laureen focus exclusively on the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran. They explore the geopolitical stakes and global reactions with expert insights from Mark Dubowitz, CEO of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, and Natasha Lindstaedt, Professor of Government at the University of Essex. Thank you for listening, sharing and subscribing to the Third Opinion Podcast!

In this episode, Maor Elbaz-Starinsky, the Consul General of Israel in Miami, reflects on his four years serving as a diplomat in Florida. And as the number of deadly antisemitic incidents rise, Mike and Laureen debate the First Amendment rights and the threats of antisemitic activities across the country. Thank you for listening, sharing and subscribing to  The Third Opinion Podcast.

Mike and Laureen break down the week's headlines, tackling false claims of blood libel in Gaza and debunking media reports alleging that the IDF fired on civilians during the retrieval of humanitarian food boxes from the Gaza Humanitarian Fund. Thank you for listening, sharing and subscribing to The Third Opinion Podcast.

This week, Mike and Laureen reflect on the tragic and senseless shootings of Israeli Embassy diplomats Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim, gunned down outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C. The episode also features interviews with Yechiel Leiter, Israeli Ambassador to the U.S., discussing concerns of Iran's nuclear ambitions, and Aaron Cohen, Israeli Special Operations veteran, she...