Daily Podcasts Video Research

On the Nose

On the Nose is a biweekly podcast by Jewish Currents, a magazine of the Jewish left founded in 1946. The editorial staff discusses the politics, culture, and questions that animate today’s Jewish left.
13 Mar
The Jewish Institutional Reaction to Mahmoud Khalil's Abduction
Arielle Angel, Mari Cohen, and Alex Kane analyze the Jewish political response to Mahmoud Khalil's detention by ICE due to his pro-Palestinian activism at Columbia University. They critique mainstream Jewish institutional reactions and discuss how the event highlights fractures in political alignments within the Jewish community concerning civil liberties and authoritarian government actions.
6 Mar
Assessing Trump’s Gaza Expulsion Fantasy
Alex Kane hosts a discussion with Mouin Rabbani and Tariq Kenney-Shawa on President Trump's controversial proposal for the mass expulsion of Palestinians from Gaza and its historical and geopolitical context. The guests explore the potential implications for the region and the future of the Gaza ceasefire amidst widespread rejection of the plan by Palestinian groups and neighboring Arab countries.
20 Feb
An Unproductive Ambiguity
The podcast episode discusses the film "The Brutalist," exploring its depiction of Israel and Zionism as a hopeful escape from antisemitism for Holocaust survivors in the U.S. Participants critique the film's narrative of Jewish life post-Holocaust and its political ambiguity, particularly regarding the treatment of Zionism and racial assimilation in America.
6 Feb
Israel’s Ever-Expanding War on the West Bank
Israeli military operations in the West Bank, particularly in Jenin, have intensified, echoing tactics used in Gaza and raising concerns of escalating conflict. Analysts discuss the impact and motivations behind these actions, as well as the broader implications for Palestinian residents and regional stability.
22 Jan
Scrutinizing the Gaza Ceasefire Deal
Alex Kane, senior reporter at Jewish Currents, discusses the recent Gaza ceasefire deal with analysts Yousef Munayyer and Zaha Hassan. They explore the motivations behind the ceasefire, the potential for its permanence, and the broader implications for Gaza's future governance and U.S.-Israel relations.
10 Jan
Voices from Gaza
Editors Peter Beinart, Mahmoud Muna, Matthew Teller, and Juliette Touma discuss their anthology "Daybreak in Gaza: Stories of Palestinian Lives and Culture," which highlights the voices of Gazan individuals amidst Israeli conflict. They explore themes of humanity, resilience, and cultural richness through personal narratives from Gazans living under siege.
19 Dec 2024
Preparing for Trump’s Repression
Palestine solidarity activists are facing heightened repression with the potential return of Trump, as policies may escalate to stifle anti-genocide movements under the guise of combating antisemitism. The discussion explores the use of civil rights law, right-wing strategies, and mobilizing progressive coalitions to resist these efforts.
5 Dec 2024
Jesse Eisenberg's Holocaust Road Trip
Arielle Angel, Maia Ipp, and Menachem Kaiser discuss the film "A Real Pain," exploring its depiction of millennial Jewish identity amidst Holocaust themes. They critique the film for lacking depth in both narrative and exploration of its sensitive subject matter, though they find its deviation from typical Holocaust narratives insightful.
14 Nov 2024
Volatile Emotions
Arielle Angel, Naomi Klein, and Hala Alyan discuss the role of emotions like grief and rage in the movement for Palestinian liberation and how these emotions intersect with political strategies. They explore how emotions can both fuel activism and present challenges, emphasizing the need for movements to accommodate diverse emotional expressions.
5 Nov 2024
Bipartisan Empire: Foreign Policy, Regional War, and the 2024 Election
This episode features a live panel discussion on the foreign policy approaches of Trump and Harris as they head into the 2024 election, particularly focusing on the Middle East and the waning bipartisan consensus on American primacy. Participants examine the implications of Middle Eastern conflicts for the political landscape in the U.S., highlighting a volatile political climate as Democrats grapple with losing key voter support.
31 Oct 2024
The Other ADLs
The episode examines how organizations, notably the Hindu American Foundation (HAF) and the Asian American Foundation (TAAF), emulate the Anti-Defamation League’s (ADL) model to gain influence and legitimacy, while grappling with their own ideological tensions and affiliations with global political movements. As the ADL itself faces criticism and a crisis of legitimacy, these groups confront the implications of their associations with the ADL model of advocacy.
17 Oct 2024
What Ta-Nehisi Coates Saw
Ta-Nehisi Coates discusses the complexity of nationalism as he critiques Israel's policies towards Palestinians in his new book "The Message". The conversation touches on the silencing of Palestinian voices in American media, historical parallels with Black American struggles, and the moral implications for oppressed groups engaging in similar behaviors.
10 Oct 2024
Palestinian Liberation After the Destruction of Gaza
In an in-depth discussion hosted by Jewish Currents, a panel consisting of authors and activists explores the complexities and future of Palestinian liberation, focusing on issues such as the impact of Israeli policies, the role of American Jews, and international solidarity. The conversation also examines the notion of one-state versus two-state solutions within shifting geopolitical dynamics and the evolution of Palestinian leadership amid fragmentation and external pressures.
2 Oct 2024
"Between the Covers" Live: Dionne Brand and Adania Shibli
Dionne Brand and Adania Shibli engage in a rich dialogue with David Naimon, examining the intersection of language, narrative, and colonial practices. They challenge the concept of home and democracy, envisioning new ways to rebuild identities and communities beyond traditional nation-states.
26 Sep 2024
"The Dig" Live: Internationalism After Third Worldism
This episode explores the history and resurgence of left internationalism in the context of ongoing conflicts like the Israeli-Palestinian crisis. Scholars Aslı Bâli and Aziz Rana discuss the legacy of Third Worldism and the challenges of constructing a new global order that confronts neocolonialism and empire, specifically from the heart of powerful nations like the United States.
5 Sep 2024
Talking About Antisemitism
This episode explores the complexities of addressing antisemitism amidst political discourse on Israel and Palestine, particularly examining how antisemitism is leveraged by both the right and left to serve various agendas. The conversation delves into the difficulty of confronting antisemitism in a way that doesn't undermine solidarity movements while also addressing genuine antisemitic sentiments that arise.
9 Aug 2024
The Killing of Ismail Haniyeh
Ismail Haniyeh, the top political leader of Hamas, was killed in Iran on July 31st in an explosion at a guest house where he was staying for the presidential inauguration. Israel is widely believed to be responsible for the attack, amid ongoing ceasefire negotiations between Hamas and Israel. Haniyeh's assassination has complicated the peace talks and raised fears of further conflict in the region, with Iran vowing retaliation against Israel. The killing came shortly after Israel's assassination of a Hezbollah commander in Lebanon. A podcast episode featuring Tareq Baconi discusses these events and their implications for the future of the region, highlighting the potential for escalating tensions and the impact on peace negotiations.
7 Aug 2024
The Escalating Regional War
In the Middle East, a regional war involving Israel and its Western allies against Iran-backed forces has been escalating since October 7th. The conflict includes attacks by the Yemeni Houthi faction on ships in the Red Sea, US and British airstrikes on Yemen, Iraqi militias firing rockets at US forces, and clashes between Hezbollah and Israel leading to displacement in Lebanon and Israel. Recent assassinations of a senior Hezbollah commander in Beirut and Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Iran by Israel have raised concerns of a larger conflict. Interviews with experts Trita Parsi and Karim Makdisi on "On the Nose" discuss Iran and Hezbollah's strategies, Biden administration's response, and the potential for a full-scale regional war.
1 Aug 2024
Chevruta: Voting
The podcast episode discusses whether leftists should vote for the Democratic nominee in the 2024 presidential election, addressing concerns over U.S. support for Israel and the ethical dilemmas of voting for a candidate whose actions one might not fully support. By examining a legal responsum by Rabbi Menashe Klein on voting responsibility, the conversation between Raphael Magarik and Rania Batrice delves into the complexities of electoral choices, ethical considerations, and the meaning of voting beyond traditional liberal frameworks. This dialogue is part of Jewish Currents' chevruta column, where leftist activists engage with Torah scholars to explore pressing political and ethical questions through Jewish texts.
25 Jul 2024
J.D. Vance’s Foreign Policy Vision
Ohio Senator J.D. Vance's foreign policy positions are shaping a new realist nationalist vision within the GOP, representing a break from traditional Republican military interventions. Although Vance is critical of policies like U.S. funding for Ukraine, he supports unwavering U.S. backing for Israel, highlighting potential shifts but continued tensions in future U.S. foreign policy.