Call Me Back - with Dan Senor

Subscribe here to Inside Call me Back ------- Please take 5 minutes to fill out Ark Media’s LISTENER SURVEY ____ 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: 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

Subscribe here to Inside Call me Back ------- Please take 5 minutes to fill out Ark Media’s LISTENER SURVEY ____ 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: 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

Subscribe here to Inside Call me Back ------- Please take 5 minutes to fill out Ark Media’s LISTENER SURVEY ____ 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. 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

Subscribe here to Inside Call me Back ------- Please take 5 minutes to fill out Ark Media’s LISTENER SURVEY ____ 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. 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

Subscribe here to Inside Call me Back ------- Please take 5 minutes to fill out Ark Media’s LISTENER SURVEY ____ 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. 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

Subscribe here to Inside Call me Back ------- Please take 5 minutes to fill out Ark Media’s LISTENER SURVEY ____ 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 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

Subscribe here to Inside Call me Back ------- Please take 5 minutes to fill out Ark Media’s LISTENER SURVEY ____ 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. More Ark Media: Want to join the team at 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

Subscribe here to Inside Call me Back ------- Please take 5 minutes to fill out Ark Media’s LISTENER SURVEY ____ 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 More Ark Media: 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

Please take 5 minutes to fill out Ark Media’s LISTENER SURVEY ____ 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 More Ark Media: Subscribe to Inside Call me Back 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

Please take 5 minutes to fill out Ark Media’s LISTENER SURVEY ____ 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 More Ark Media: Subscribe to Inside Call me Back 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 

Please take 5 minutes to fill out Ark Media’s LISTENER SURVEY ____ 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 More Ark Media: Subscribe to Inside Call me Back 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 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?  More Ark Media: Subscribe to Inside Call me Back 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, Patricio Spadavecchia, Yuval Semo 

Please take 5 minutes to fill out Ark Media’s LISTENER SURVEY ____ 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 More Ark Media: Subscribe to Inside Call me Back 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 

Please take 5 minutes to fill out Ark Media’s LISTENER SURVEY____Subscribe to What’s Your Number?____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 recalibration10:40 - Mentor turned rival: How MBS and MBZ went from alignment to confrontation18:45 - The Yemen flashpoint that ruptured the Saudi–UAE relationship24:00 - Energy corridors, IMEC, and the India factor28:30 - Is Israel collateral damage or strategically positioned?34:50 - Why UAE’s “infrastructure diplomacy” may be winning quietly38:45 - The future of normalization versus regional integrationThis 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:Subscribe to Inside Call me BackExplore Israel VotesListen to For Heaven's SakeWatch Call me Back on YouTubeNewsletters | Ark Media | Amit Segal | Nadav EyalInstagram | Ark Media | DanX | DanDan Senor & Saul Singer’s book, The Genius of IsraelGet in touchCredits: 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 identityRegister for the Never is Now Summit and use discount code “Senor20”Watch the Call Me Back episode from the 2025 Never is Now SummitWatch Jonathan’s previous appearance on Call Me BackMore Ark Media:Subscribe to Inside Call me BackListen to For Heaven's SakeListen to What’s Your Number?Watch Call me Back on YouTubeNewsletters | Ark Media | Amit Segal | Nadav EyalInstagram | Ark Media | DanX | DanDan Senor & Saul Singer’s book, The Genius of IsraelGet in touchCredits: Ilan Benatar, Adaam James Levin-Areddy, Brittany Cohen, Martin Huergo, Mariangeles Burgos, and Patricio Spadavecchia, Yuval Semo 

Please take 5 minutes to fill out Ark Media’s LISTENER SURVEY___________________________________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 threatMore Ark Media:Subscribe to Inside Call me BackExplore Israel VotesListen to For Heaven's SakeListen to What’s Your Number?Watch Call me Back on YouTubeNewsletters | Ark Media | Amit Segal | Nadav EyalInstagram | Ark Media | DanX | DanDan Senor & Saul Singer’s book, The Genius of IsraelGet in touchCredits: Ilan Benatar, Adaam James Levin-Areddy, Brittany Cohen, Ava Weiner, Martin Huergo, Mariangeles Burgos, and Patricio Spadavecchia, Yuval Semo 

Please spend 5 minutes to fill out Ark Media’s LISTENER SURVEY___________________________________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 it08:55 - Netanyahu’s coalition problem and the ultra-Orthodox question11:55 - How October 7 changed the political map and voter psychology16:40 - 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 outcome26:45 - The opposition’s strategy and the Bennett factorMore Ark Media:Subscribe to Inside Call me BackExplore Israel VotesListen to For Heaven's SakeListen to What’s Your Number?Watch Call me Back on YouTubeNewsletters | Ark Media | Amit Segal | Nadav EyalInstagram | Ark Media | DanX | DanDan Senor & Saul Singer’s book, The Genius of IsraelGet in touchCredits: 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. Subscribe here to Inside Call me BackBret Stephens argues that while organizations like the ADL do valuable work tracking and responding to antisemitic incidents, the Jewish community has overinvested in fighting antisemitism as a primary strategy.To hear the full conversation, become a member by following the link in the description or visiting arkmedia.org.In the full episode: New York Times columnist Bret Stephens joins Dan on the members-only edition of Call me Back to take questions about his speech at 92nd Street Y and the public conversation it started. Should we really stop trying to fight Antisemitism? Should the ADL be “dismantled”? Can we define the psychology of Antisemitism? And what are the stories that define Judaism?Watch Bret's full speech: https://youtu.be/1QMTjVuo9dEMore Ark Media:Listen to For Heaven's SakeListen to What’s Your Number?Watch Call me Back on YouTubeNewsletters | Ark Media | Amit Segal | Nadav EyalInstagram | Ark Media | DanX | DanDan Senor & Saul Singer’s book, The Genius of IsraelGet in touchCredits: Ilan Benatar, Adaam James Levin-Areddy, Brittany Cohen, Martin Huergo, Mariangeles Burgos, and Patricio Spadavecchia, Yuval Semo

Is the right way to fight Antisemitism maybe to… stop fighting it?In this special episode, we share The State of World Jewry address delivered by New York Times columnist Bret Stephens at the 92nd Street Y. Stephens, who is also the editor-in-chief of SAPIR Journal, offers a bracing diagnosis of modern antisemitism and argues that it cannot be educated away, apologized for, or solved through allyship. Instead, he calls for Jewish confidence, cultural seriousness, and moral clarity in the face of rising hostility.In this episode:- Why antisemitism is about resentment, not misunderstanding- The false promise of fighting antisemitism head-on- The danger of approval-seeking and respectability politics- October 8th Jews and the identity reckoning- Jewish values as inherently countercultural- Building strength instead of chasing acceptanceThis episode was sponsored by SAPIR: Sign up for the SAPIR journal at sapirjournal.org/CallMeBackMore Ark Media:Want to join Ark Media? Check out our careers page for new openings.Subscribe to Inside Call me BackListen to For Heaven's SakeListen to What’s Your Number?Watch Call me Back on YouTubeNewsletters | Ark Media | Amit Segal | Nadav EyalInstagram | Ark Media | DanX | DanDan Senor & Saul Singer’s book, The Genius of IsraelGet in touchCredits: Ilan Benatar, Adaam James Levin-Areddy, Brittany Cohen, Martin Huergo, Mariangeles Burgos, and Patricio Spadavecchia, Yuval Semo 

Is there a deeper strategy underlying President Trump’s actions?Dan is joined by historian, Free Press columnist, CBS contributor, and Senior Fellow at Hoover Institution Sir Niall Ferguson to connect the dots on how President Trump is using leverage, unpredictability, and selective force across Iran, Venezuela, Europe, and beyond. They discuss why a counter revolution in Iran has little chance without foreign intervention, what “regime alteration” means, whether we're still living through Cold War II, and why Europe keeps taking the bait.In this episode…- Iran strike timing, targets, and endgame- “Regime alteration” vs. regime change- Why Iran’s protests failed and fear works- Turkey’s mediation and Erdoğan’s ambitions- Saudi pressure and regional deterrence logic- Cold War II and the authoritarian axis- Davos, Europe’s weakness, and the Greenland distraction- MAGA tensions, Israel, deterrence, and TaiwanThis 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.From the episode:- Niall Ferguson’s essay in the Free Press, “The Myth of Revolution in Iran”More Ark Media:Want to join Ark Media? Check out our careers page for new openings.Subscribe to Inside Call me BackListen to For Heaven's SakeListen to What’s Your Number?Watch Call me Back on YouTubeNewsletters | Ark Media | Amit Segal | Nadav EyalInstagram | Ark Media | DanX | DanDan Senor & Saul Singer’s book, The Genius of IsraelGet in touchCredits: Ilan Benatar, Adaam James Levin-Areddy, Brittany Cohen, Martin Huergo, Mariangeles Burgos, and Patricio Spadavecchia, Yuval Semo