J100 Podcast

Australian investigative journalist Sharri Markson joins The Algemeiner’s J100 podcast for a deeply personal conversation about the Bondi terror attack, the rise of antisemitism in Australia, and the stories behind her new book, “Bondi Terror”.

Markson recounts being nearby with her young children as the shooting unfolded, reporting live from Bondi Beach that night, and the emotional toll of covering an attack on her own community. She also reflects on extraordinary acts of courage she uncovered afterward, the warning signs she believes authorities missed, how October 7 transformed her journalism, media coverage of Israel, AI and trust in news, and the changing reality for Jewish Australians.

Chapters

00:00 — “You Expect to Be Safe at Bondi”

00:32 — Sharri Markson & a Life in Journalism

07:01 — AI, Deepfakes & Trust in Media

09:37 — Inside the Bondi Terror Attack

13:59 — Missed Warnings & Fighting Antisemitism

21:41 — Reporting Trauma, Faith & Heroism

34:12 — October 7 & the Media

41:09 — Why Bondi Terror Became a Book

45:07 — Jewish Life in Australia Today

47:50 — Rapid Fire, Changing Her Mind & Social Media

You can find the condensed transcript & summary of this episode and more episodes at 

https://thealgemeiner.substack.com/p/inside-bondi-terror-sharri-markson?r=5m0oyd&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

This episode of "The J100 Podcast" was produced by David Taragin.

Nassau County Executive and Republican gubernatorial nominee Bruce Blakeman joins the J100 podcast from his campaign headquarters to discuss New York’s future, Kathy Hochul, Zohran Mamdani, President Trump, Israel, antisemitism and the Jewish identity that shapes his politics.

Chapters

00:00 — Cold Open & Introduction

02:10 — Mamdani, Antisemitism & Public Safety

04:41 — Can a Republican Win New York?

07:33 — New York’s “Death Spiral”

09:02 — Trump, Courage & Leadership

11:35 — Israel, Antisemitism & the Democratic Party

15:52 — Jewish Identity, Faith & Leadership

17:03 — Two Types of Antisemitism & BDS

19:19 — Rapid Fire

You can find the condensed transcript & summary of this episode and more episodes at 

https://thealgemeiner.substack.com/p/bruce-blakeman-on-new-yorks-death?r=5m0oyd&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

This episode of "The J100 Podcast" was produced by David Taragin.

Alyssa Rosenheck joins the J100 podcast to discuss her new book ‘White. Blonde. Jew.’, the experiences that shaped her Jewish identity, post–October 7 advocacy, antisemitism, Israel, misinformation, and why she believes courage begins locally.

This episode was recorded before a live audience in the Hamptons.

Chapters

00:00 — Finding Her Voice as a Young Jew

05:39 — Why She Called the Book White. Blonde. Jew.

08:16 — The Stories That Almost Didn’t Make the Book

12:20 — Why Jewish Advocacy Has to Start Locally

15:16 — October 7, Israel, and the Cost of Speaking Out

19:03 — Rabbi Sacks, Responsibility, and Jewish Resilience

21:23 — BDS, Identity Politics, and the Battle Over Narratives

30:02 — Fighting Misinformation: The P.A.C.E. Method

32:12 — Audience Q&A: Hope, Young Jews, Listening, and Fighting Back

You can find the condensed transcript & summary of this episode and more episodes at 

https://thealgemeiner.substack.com/p/i-let-the-haters-title-the-book-alyssa?r=5m0oyd&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

This episode of "The J100 Podcast" was produced by David Taragin.

Former Jerusalem Deputy Mayor Fleur Hassan-Nahoum joins the J100 podcast for a wide-ranging conversation about Israel’s battle over global narratives, growing hostility toward Jewish students on Western campuses, the future of Diaspora Jewry, Netanyahu and Israeli politics, Haredi integration, Iran, women in leadership, and what separates genuine leadership from performance.

Recorded earlier at The Algemeiner’s New York offices.

00:00 — From Gibraltar to Jerusalem
07:05 — Entering Israeli Politics
15:03 — The Campus Crisis
20:32 — October 7 & Israel’s Narrative War
24:37 — Netanyahu & Israeli Leadership
27:23 — Campus Israel & the Diaspora
35:22 — Haredim, Women & Israeli Society
45:03 — Iran, Trump & the War
49:49 — Leadership, Listening & Building Bridges

You can find the condensed transcript & summary of this episode and more episodes at 

https://thealgemeiner.substack.com/p/israels-narrative-war-the-campus?r=5m0oyd&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

This episode of "The J100 Podcast" was produced by David Taragin.

As the Jewish world marks 50 years since the raid on Entebbe, former Mossad officer, Israeli Air Force veteran, and psychologist Glenn Cohen joins J100 to discuss hostage rescue, ambiguous loss, trauma, resilience, and what it means to help survivors come home.

You can find the condensed transcript & summary of this episode and more episodes at 

 https://open.substack.com/pub/thealgemeiner/p/glenn-cohen-on-hostages-trauma-and?r=5m0oyd&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

This episode of "The J100 Podcast" was produced by David Taragin.

Former U.S. Treasury Assistant Secretary Mitchell Silk joins J100 for an in-person conversation about his extraordinary path from working in Chinese restaurants as a teenager to becoming a senior American official involved in China trade negotiations, global finance, infrastructure, fintech, and CARES Act relief.

Silk reflects on his Hasidic identity, his grandfather’s influence, his years in Asia-focused law and finance, his work at the Treasury Department, the future of U.S.-China relations, Israel’s economic importance, antisemitism in financial markets, digital currency, and his new book A Seat at the Table.

Chapters

00:00 Israel, America, and Economic Opportunity

01:22 Introduction

04:04 From Chinese Restaurant to China Expert

10:09 Law School, China, and Early Career

15:00 Jewish Identity and Hasidic Roots

19:09 Being Observant in Big Law

22:35 Energy, Infrastructure, and Innovation

31:29 The Path to Treasury

37:48 U.S.-China Relations and Trade

46:29 Inside the Treasury Department

49:10 Israel, Fintech, and the Abraham Accords

50:46 U.S.-Israel Relations and Financial Antisemitism

55:24 Digital Currency and the U.S. Dollar

57:44 Why He Wrote A Seat at the Table

You can find the condensed transcript & summary of this episode and more episodes at 

https://open.substack.com/pub/thealgemeiner/p/from-chinese-restaurant-dishwasher?r=5m0oyd&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

This episode of "The J100 Podcast" was produced by David Taragin.

Dr. Gad Saad joins the J100 Podcast for a wide-ranging conversation centered on his new book, Suicidal Empathy.

From growing up Jewish in Beirut during the Lebanese Civil War to becoming one of the most recognizable public intellectuals in the world today, Saad reflects on the experiences and ideas that shaped his worldview.

The conversation explores:

the psychological roots of ideological possession

why people become detached from survival instincts

the relationship between emotion and reason

academia and intellectual conformity

social media and modern persuasion

anti-Semitism and the psychology of scapegoating

Canada’s cultural decline

Elon Musk, authenticity, and freedom

Israel, October 7th, and the West’s moral confusion

Saad also explains the evolutionary logic behind concepts like “suicidal empathy,” “wood cricket Jews,” and “parasitic ideas,” while offering a broader framework for understanding the current cultural moment.

This is a conversation about human nature, civilization, freedom, and what happens when societies lose the ability to distinguish compassion from self-destruction.

Chapters

00:00 — The Parasite in the Mind
01:33 — Introducing Dr. Gad Saad
06:24 — Growing Up Jewish in Beirut & Reinventing in Montreal
14:19 — Academia, Ambition & Rejecting Materialism
22:08 — The Parasitic Mind vs. Suicidal Empathy
30:08 — Ideological Parasites, “Wood Cricket Jews” & Civilizational Self-Destruction
39:14 — Social Media, Elon Musk & Speaking Beyond Academia
49:01 — Universities, Ideology & the Collapse of Intellectual Diversity
58:37 — Israel, Antisemitism & Why Jews Become Scapegoats

You can find the condensed transcript & summary of this episode and more episodes at 

https://open.substack.com/pub/thealgemeiner/p/dr-gad-saad-on-freedom-academia-elon?r=5m0oyd&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

This episode of "The J100 Podcast" was produced by David Taragin.

What if the central mistake in understanding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict… was never military—but conceptual?

Dr. Einat Wilf argues that for decades, Israel—and much of the world—has been fighting the wrong battle. While attention is fixed on land, borders, and security, the real war, she says, has been unfolding inideas, language, and narrative.

In this J100 conversation, Wilf traces her evolution from Oslo-era optimism to a far more unsettling conclusion: that the conflict is not simply about competing national claims, but about a fundamental rejection of Jewish sovereignty itself.

We discuss October 7, the failure of “comforting lies,” Palestinian political ideology, Iran and the stakes of regime change, and why Israel has struggled to tell its own story in a world increasingly shaped by perception.

This is not a conventional conversation about geopolitics. It’s a deeper examination of what happens when a society misunderstands the nature of the conflict it’s in—and what it takes to correct course.

00:00 — Opening: Iran, Victory, and Stakes

00:35 — Introduction

02:03 — Jerusalem Roots and Early Ambition

11:03 — Intelligence, Harvard, and the Path to Politics

28:08 — Inside the Knesset and the Nature of Politics

34:29 — From Oslo Hope to October 7 Clarity

51:14 — Rejectionism, Language, and Listening

55:44 — The War of Ideas and Iran

1:05:11 — Oath Party and the Future

You can find the condensed transcript & summary of this episode and more episodes at 

The link here

This episode of "The J100 Podcast" was produced by David Taragin.

Is support for Israel still bipartisan — or has something fundamentally changed?

In this episode of J100, Matt Brooks – CEO of the Republican Jewish Coalition – speaks about the evolving relationship between the United States and Israel, Party divides, and American Jewish identity.

They discuss the breakdown of old political assumptions, the rise of extremism across both sides, tensions on college campuses, and what actually drives Jewish voters today.

At the center of it all is a deeper question: when the world feels less stable, what matters more — ideology, or security?

A sharp, timely conversation about power, politics, and the forces reshaping the current moment.

00:00 – 00:48 | The Horseshoe Theory

00:48 – 02:43 | When the Ground Starts to Shift

02:43 – 06:06 | Matt Brooks’ Path to Politics

06:06 – 13:20 | The Pro-Israel Realignment

13:20 – 15:19 | Antisemitism Across the Extremes

15:19 – 19:33 | J.D. Vance and the Republican Future

19:33 – 23:51 | Campus Fear and Generational Blind Spots

23:51 – 29:22 | Jewish Resilience and American Optimism

29:22 – 34:52 | What Actually Moves Jewish Voters

34:52 – 39:32 | Tikkun Olam, Sinatra, and the Eagles

Sylvan Adams joins J100 for a wide-ranging conversation on aliyah, antisemitism, sports diplomacy, philanthropy, and the future of Israel. From his family’s Holocaust-rooted story to his efforts to strengthen the Jewish state through major gifts and global cultural events, Adams offers a deeply personal vision of Jewish belonging, resilience, and responsibility.

Chapters

00:00 The October 8 Awakening
02:06 Sylvan Adams and the Battle for Israel’s Image
03:41 Family, Home, and Living Through War
06:29 Organized Antisemitism and the Global Narrative War
18:47 Holocaust Memory and a Jewish Family’s Journey
28:59 Love, Marriage, Business, and Aliyah
39:49 Using Sports and Culture to Elevate Israel
52:51 Giving, Rebuilding, and the Future of the Jewish State

You can find the condensed transcript & summary of this episode and more episodes at 

https://open.substack.com/pub/thealgemeiner/p/the-self-appointed-ambassador-for?r=5m0oyd&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

This episode of "The J100 Podcast" was produced by David Taragin.

Princeton professor Robert P. George joins J100 to examine campus antisemitism after October 7, the crisis of ideological conformity, anti-Semitism on both the left and right, and why a free society depends on forming truth-seekers—not partisans.

● 🎓 Campus After October 7: selective outrage, anti-Zionism, and when criticism becomes prejudice

● 🗣️ Teaching Without Indoctrination: why professors must form truth-seekers, not ideological loyalists

● 🤝 Friendship Across Difference: what Robert George learned from decades of teaching with Cornel West

● ⚖️ Public Service & the Constitution: suing a sitting president over principle

● 🧨 Antisemitism on the Right: why George resigned from the Heritage Foundation

● 🧭 The “Ancient Faith”: Lincoln, human dignity, and the moral core of American democracy

● 🪕 From Appalachia to Princeton — and why the banjo still matters

Chapters

00:00 — Appalachia, Immigrant Roots, and Becoming the First to College

06:44 — The White House Call: Civil Rights and Public Life

16:38 — Presidents, Bioethics, and Moral Decision-Making

20:59 — Campus Culture After October 7

29:44 — Truth-Seeking vs. Indoctrination

37:47 — Cornel West and the Lost Art of Disagreement

42:20 — Antisemitism on the Right and the Heritage Resignation

50:17 — Conservatism After Trump: Ideas or Personality?

54:17 — The Banjo, Joy, and the Personal Thread

You can find the condensed transcript & summary of this episode and more episodes at 

https://open.substack.com/pub/thealgemeiner/p/resigning-from-the-heritage-foundation?r=5m0oyd&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

This episode of "The J100 Podcast" was produced by David Taragin.

Lionel Shriver joins J100 from Portugal for a sharp, wide-ranging conversation on faith, dogma, and dissent. She explains how her religious upbringing shaped her suspicion of imposed moral certainty, why the arts have become politically homogeneous, how she separates column-writing from novelistic truth, and why Israel’s confidence—and survival—matters in a West increasingly ashamed of itself.

Chapters

0:00 — Immigration “standards” / distinctions

01:42 — Intro + who Lionel is / new book

06:45 — Religious upbringing + resisting dogma

09:33 — Parenting, belief, and agency

14:20 — Woke as religion (judgment without mercy)

15:55 — Leaving America: Israel, Belfast, independence

26:13 — Arts conformity + bias: columnist vs novelist

41:26 — Israel, national pride, meaning, and closing Q’s

You can find the condensed transcript & summary of this episode and more episodes at 

https://open.substack.com/pub/thealgemeiner/p/the-costs-of-conformity-immigration?r=5m0oyd&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

This episode of "The J100 Podcast" was produced by David Taragin.

What does it mean to live—and write—with urgency?

Author, podcaster, founder of Zibby Media, and literary community-builder Zibby Owens joins J100 host David M. Cohen for a conversation about loss, Jewish identity, and the slow, intentional work of creating spaces where people feel seen. From her childhood in New York and early dreams of becoming a writer, to losing her best friend on 9/11 and building one of today’s most vibrant literary communities, Owens reflects on how tragedy reshapes meaning, why storytelling still matters, and what it takes to hold people together in an increasingly fragmented world. The episode also touches on antisemitism on college campuses, the emotional impact of October 7, and the promise—and limits—of AI in creative life.

00:00 — Identity, belonging, and the “blister” moment
00:28 — Why stories build community
03:56 — Campuses, safety, and Jewish life after Oct. 7
11:27 — Faith, calling, and becoming a rabbi
13:23 — Becoming a writer: books, ambition, and influence
19:18 — 9/11, loss, and the urgency of time
31:47 — AI, creativity, and the human voice
37:51 — Building community, one room at a time

You can find the condensed transcript & summary of this episode and more episodes at 

https://open.substack.com/pub/thealgemeiner/p/why-stories-still-matter-zibby-owens?utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=web

This episode of "The J100 Podcast" was produced by David Taragin.

As Britain grapples with mass protests, policing failures, and rising antisemitism, where does free speech end—and incitement begin?

In this episode of J100, British journalist and Algemeiner contributor Jonathan Sacerdoti joins the show to examine how Western societies are responding to extremism in real time. From the collapse of debate at the Oxford Union to the everyday security realities facing Jews in the UK, this conversation explores protest culture, media responsibility, and the moral clarity liberal democracies need to defend themselves.

Chapters

00:00 — Security & “alarmism”

00:27 — Intro: Britain Now / 2026 frame

03:24 — Jonathan’s background

07:07 — Family story / Holocaust legacy

11:19 — Why journalism

13:36 — British Jewry & community politics

18:01 — Oxford Union / debate breakdown

33:23 — Antisemitism now: speech, protests, policing

51:31 — U.S. vs. Europe / Trump & political swings

59:49 — Personal: pottery & creativity / closing

You can find the condensed transcript & summary of this episode and more episodes at 

Britain Now: Protests, Policing, and the Line Between Speech and Incitement

This episode of "The J100 Podcast" was produced by David Taragin.

Historian. Strategist. Myth-buster.

Walter Russell Mead joins theJ100 Podcast for a wide-ranging conversation on the real foundations of the U.S.–Israel relationship—and why both supporters and critics often misunderstand what actually drives it.

Mead argues that familiar narratives are backward: Israel didn’t become powerful because of an American alliance; America aligned with Israel once Israel became a regional superpower—at the moment Middle East oil and global order grew central to U.S. interests. From Truman and Stalin to Nixon and the Yom Kippur War, he shows how domestic myths (including myths about “Jewish power”) flatten a far more complex historical record.

The conversation also explores post–Oct. 7 geopolitics, the strategic meaning of weakening Iran’s regional project, Qatar’s survival logic, and why arguments about “America First” often boil down to whether Americans believe the U.S. has interests beyond its borders. Along the way: a surprising first trip to Israel involving Yasser Arafat, a childhood shaped by faith and civil rights activism, and what writing columns teaches you that books never will.

Chapters

00:00 — Why America Aligns With Israel

06:48 — Why Mead Wrote the Book

09:07 — Myths: Pro-Israel vs. Anti-Israel

15:02 — Israel’s Power, Not Jewish “Influence”

17:53 — America First, Antisemitism, and National Interest

22:10 — Oil, Order, and Keeping One Power From Dominating

29:11 — October 7, Iran, and Netanyahu’s War Leadership

46:10 — Arafat, Faith, Writing, and What Jews Miss About America

You can find the condensed transcript & summary of this episode and more episodes at 

https://open.substack.com/pub/thealgemeiner/p/why-america-backs-israel-interests?r=5m0oyd&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

This episode of "The J100 Podcast" was produced by David Taragin.

Walter's recent WSJ Article:

The Intifada Comes to Australia

Barrister. Advocate. Relentless explainer of the law.

London-based attorney Natasha Hausdorff joins the Algemeiner to unpack how international law and media narratives are weaponized against Israel — and what ordinary people can do about it.

From elite London classrooms to Oxford law and Skadden, Hausdorff describes discovering how international law was being inverted to attack the Jewish state. She dissects the Al-Ahli hospital misreporting, the ICJ’s oft-misread provisional-measures order (“plausible rights,” not “plausible genocide”), and the ICC’s jurisdictional overreach. The conversation ranges from the UN’s structural bias to Israel’s judicial reform debate — and why refusing to engage legislatively breaks democracies.

For listeners hungry to help, Hausdorff offers a practical brief: raise literacy in international law, challenge falsehoods, write, call, show up — and do it with confidence. This isn’t just Israel’s fight, she argues; it’s a defense of Western liberal values.

Chapter Breakdown

00:00 – Modern Blood Libels & Lawfare

01:26 – Host Intro: Why This Conversation Now

04:40 – Meet Natasha & Her Algemeiner Connection

05:20 – London Upbringing, Israeli Roots & Discovering Lawfare

08:42 – The Only Zionist in School: UK Antisemitism & Ignorance

13:58 – How Ordinary People Can Fight Back with Law & Literacy

18:43 – Antisemitic Attack in DC & The “Death Cult” in the West

24:46 – Media War, Gaza Narratives & the Al-Ahli Hospital Lie

34:34 – ICJ Genocide Case, “Plausible Rights” & Legal Misrepresentation

42:59 – Lawfare, ICC, UN & the Battle for the Rule of Law

51:10 – Israel’s Judicial Reform, Democracy & Unity After Oct 7

58:13 – October 7th, “Both Hands Tied” & Renewed Resolve

1:04:27 – Life as a Barrister, Time Pressure & Personal Reflections

You can find the condensed transcript & summary of this episode and more episodes at 

https://open.substack.com/pub/thealgemeiner/p/from-headlines-to-courtrooms-how?r=5m0oyd&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true
This episode of "The J100 Podcast" was produced by David Taragin.

Recorded live before a New York audience, in this special bonus episode, Ambassador Tom Nides—former U.S. Ambassador to Israel and current Blackstone executive—joins the J100 for a candid, unscripted conversation on Israel’s war with Hamas, the hostages, October 7th, the meaning of Zionism, and the politics of ending a war without abandoning core security goals.

Nides argues Hamas is “150% responsible” for the catastrophe in Gaza, says the war must end and hostages must come home—now, and makes the case for redefining success so October 7th “never happens again.” He shares why he visited bereaved families across Israel as ambassador, how he kept friendships across political divides (from David Friedman to West Bank rabbi and settler Uri Pilichowski), what the world got wrong on the humanitarian narrative, and why bipartisan U.S. support still matters.

Chapters

00:00 – Live Intro

03:26 – Blackstone Tragedy

05:12 – Duluth Roots & Zionism

08:34 – Leaving Post & October 7

21:36 – Talking Across Divides

27:20 – Hamas & Redefining Success

33:11 – Hostages & Humanity

38:10 – Lessons in Leadership

You can find the condensed transcript & summary of this episode and more episodes at 

https://open.substack.com/pub/thealgemeiner/p/us-ambassador-to-israel-on-politics?r=5m0oyd&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

This episode of "The J100 Podcast" was produced by David Taragin.

British journalist and author Melanie Phillips—Times of London columnist and author of The Builder’s Stone—joins David from Jerusalem to dissect the cultural and media forces shaping Israel’s fight.

In this episode:

Origins & worldview: A British Jewish upbringing, Oxford, two societies in one head—London and Jerusalem.

From Left to outcast: The 1982 Lebanon War, double standards at The Guardian, and how “anti-racism” masked real racism.

Journalism’s fall: Universities abandoned objective truth → media embraced “narratives” over facts.

The cognitive war: Why Israel long ignored Hasbara, and what a serious strategy would require.

Britain vs. America: Different publics, different levers—both persuadable with evidence and backbone… annnd hate, lies, and propaganda.

Qatar & hostages: Why treating Doha as an honest broker fails.

Campus reality: Safety first, solidarity second—and the need for intellectual tools and moral confidence.

Candid, uncompromising, and urgent—this conversation exposes the “eighth front” in Israel’s war: the battle for truth itself.

Chapters

00:00 — The Cognitive War

02:12 — Crisis of Truth

04:24 — From The Guardian to Heretic

10:18 — British Jewish Anxiety

13:41 — 1982 Lebanon Break

20:00 — Fear and Conformity

26:28 — Cognitive Dissonance

36:43 — Journalism’s Collapse

47:38 — The Eighth Front

55:58 — Britain vs. America

1:04:40 — Gaza & Education

1:07:55 — Qatar’s Role

1:12:30 — Message to Students

1:17:54 — Closing

You can find the condensed transcript & summary of this episode and more episodes at 

https://open.substack.com/pub/thealgemeiner/p/the-eighth-front-is-the-mind-melanie?r=5m0oyd&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

This episode of "The J100 Podcast" was produced by David Taragin.

Congressman Randy Fine represents Florida’s 8th District — and a new kind of Jewish courage in American politics. Known to admirers and critics alike as “the Hebrew Hammer,” Fine has made national headlines for his unapologetic defense of Israel, his fierce opposition to campus antisemitism, and his proud decision to wear a kippah daily — including on the floor of Congress.

In this episode, Fine opens up to David M. Cohen about:

Growing up as the “Kentucky Fried Jew” in a hostile environment.

Lessons learned from his blind father and his years at Harvard.

Why he believes “truth is an absolute defense.”

How his son inspired him to make his faith visible — and his politics fearless.

His mission to bring moral clarity back to American leadership.

A conversation about identity, integrity, and the courage to stand tall in an age of moral confusion.

Chapters

00:00 – Meeting Trump, Reflections on Leadership

02:00 – Growing Up Jewish in Kentucky

05:00 – Lessons From His Father

06:00 – Harvard Years & Early Ambition

09:00 – Antisemitism on Campus Then and Now

14:00 – Business Success & Lessons in Drive

18:00 – How Common Core Pushed Him Into Politics

20:00 – Becoming More Jewish in Office

23:00 – The Kippah Decision and Its Symbolism

27:00 – Florida Politics and Fighting Antisemitism

31:00 – Trips to Israel & Spiritual Renewal

33:00 – Strategy, Priorities, and the Foreign Affairs Committee

36:00 – Immigration, Integration, and American Values

38:00 – Mission, Challenges, and Legacy

You can find the condensed transcript & summary of this episode and more episodes at 

https://open.substack.com/pub/thealgemeiner/p/the-hebrew-hammer-in-congress-faith?r=5m0oyd&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

This episode of "The J100 Podcast" was produced by David Taragin.

With the High Holidays upon us, Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch joins J100 for a conversation that bridges history, leadership, and spirituality at a time when Jews worldwide are searching for meaning and clarity.

Hirsch — senior rabbi of Stephen Wise Free Synagogue in New York and a former IDF tank commander — reflects on growing up in Jerusalem, serving in the army, and becoming a leading Reform rabbi. He speaks candidly about October 7’s impact on Jewish life, the responsibilities of rabbis in times of crisis, and the art of the High Holiday sermon.

This episode is a meditation on Judaism, Zionism, and leadership — released intentionally on the eve of Rosh Hashanah to meet the moment of reflection and renewal.
Chapters 

00:00 — Roots of a Rabbi

06:30 — Yom Kippur War & Youth in Israel

09:00 — Tank Commander Reflections

14:00 — The War with Hamas: Broad Consensus

20:00 — Controversial Book: One People, Two Worlds

29:30 — The Art of the Sermon (High Holiday Reflections)

37:00 — Orators Who Inspire

40:30 — Reform Judaism & Zionism Today

48:30 — From National to Local Leadership

52:00 — Building a Virtual Synagogue

54:15 — The Introvert Revelation

56:30 — Closing Thanks & Blessings

https://open.substack.com/pub/thealgemeiner/p/the-art-of-the-sermon-the-duty-of?r=5m0oyd&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

As students return to school this fall, college campuses are at the forefront of one of the most pressing battles of our time. Nina Rennert Davidson — philanthropist, activist, and longtime Algemeiner honoree — joins J100 to confront the campus antisemitism that has exploded in the wake of October 7th.

In this wide-ranging conversation, Nina shares:

Her family’s lifelong commitment to Israel and Jewish life

How October 7th forever changed her outlook

The chilling scene at Columbia University just days later

The “three buckets” of campus life — academic, physical, and emotional — and how each has been poisoned for Jewish students

Why Jewish philanthropy must be rethought

Why the fight for Jewish dignity is also a fight for Western civilization

It’s raw, it’s urgent, and it’s a call to action as the academic year begins.

Chapters

00:00 | Introducing Nina Davidson

04:22 | Upbringing, Family, and Israel

13:06 | October 7th & Its Aftermath

19:01 | Antisemitism on Campus

28:40 | The Three Buckets of Student Life

40:41 | Can Universities Be Saved?

49:04 | Subhuman in 2025 & The Global Intifada

55:39 | Personal Reflections & Final Lessons

You can find the condensed transcript & summary of this episode and more episodes at 

https://open.substack.com/pub/thealgemeiner/p/back-to-campus-back-to-chaos-nina?r=5m0oyd&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

This episode of "The J100 Podcast" was produced by David Taragin.

What happens when words become weapons? When history’s lessons are ignored? In this gripping conversation, J100 host David M. Cohen is joined by Mort Klein, president of the Zionist Organization of America, for a wide-ranging and unfiltered dialogue.

Born to Holocaust survivors in a displaced persons camp, Mort built a career as a mathematician and health economist before devoting his life to Jewish advocacy. Over three decades at ZOA, he has shaped U.S. policy on Israel, spearheaded the battle to move the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem, and fought tirelessly against antisemitism in all its forms.

Together, David and Mort explore:

Why “words become sticks and stones” — the link between rhetoric and violence

The morality and consequences of hostage deals and prisoner swaps

How the embassy move to Jerusalem almost failed — and who made it happen

The existential threats of Iran, radical Islam, and rising antisemitism

The quieter crisis of assimilation and intermarriage

Provocative, passionate, and deeply personal, this episode forces us to confront uncomfortable truths — and reminds us why the fight for Jewish survival remains as urgent as ever.

Chapters

00:00 – Holocaust roots

05:00 – From math to activism

10:30 – Hostages, Hamas, and hard truths

15:00 – ZOA beginnings and battles

21:00 – Title VI, lawsuits, and Jewish rights

23:00 – The embassy to Jerusalem: behind-the-scenes fight

28:00 – Trump, Adelson, Pence, and the tipping point

33:00 – Iran, radical Islam, and America’s role

36:00 – October 7th: reflections and failures

44:00 – Media wars and Jewish silence

50:00 – Loneliness of leadership and validation

52:00 – Personal stories: baseball, Tourette’s, and resilience

You can find the condensed transcript & summary of this episode and more episodes at 

https://open.substack.com/pub/thealgemeiner/p/the-embassy-the-hostages-and-the?r=5m0oyd&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

This episode of "The J100 Podcast" was produced by David Taragin.

In this powerful and timely episode of The J100, host David M. Cohen sits down with Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of the Anti-Defamation League, to unpack the escalating threat of antisemitism in America and abroad. From the October 7th Hamas attacks to the silence on campuses, Greenblatt explores the moral failures of modern institutions, the rise of antisemitism masquerading as social justice, and the ADL’s evolving role in combating hate in the digital age. With personal reflections, sharp insights, and unwavering conviction, Greenblatt calls for a Jewish revival rooted in courage, clarity, and unapologetic identity. A must-listen for anyone seeking to understand what’s at stake and how we fight back.

Chapters

00:00 – Introduction: Meet Jonathan Greenblatt

02:15 – Antisemitism Is Coming From All Sides

06:40 – October 7th and the Deafening Silence

11:22 – Campus Cowardice and Moral Confusion

15:56 – Zionism Is Not a Slur

21:05 – Inside the ADL’s Fight Against Hate

26:33 – The Progressive Exception: Where Are Our Allies?

30:48 – Embracing Jewish Identity, Proud and Public

35:17 – Final Words: Never Again Means Now

You can find the condensed transcript & summary of this episode and more episodes at 

https://open.substack.com/pub/thealgemeiner/p/the-adl-vs-the-hate-inside-the-fight?r=5m0oyd&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false

This episode of "The J100 Podcast" was produced by David Taragin.

In this powerful episode of the J100 podcast, Consul General Ofir Akunis joins host David M. Cohen for an unfiltered conversation on the historic joint U.S.-Israel strike against Iran’s nuclear program and its seismic implications for global security. Akunis reflects on Prime Minister Netanyahu’s decades-long mission to neutralize the Iranian threat, the enduring alliance between Israel and America, and the dangerous rise of antisemitism and anti-Western sentiment.

From his decades-long relationship with Prime Minister Netanyahu to his passionate defense of Israeli and American values on the streets of New York, Akunis frames the current conflict not as a regional dispute — but as a global ideological battle. He speaks candidly about Hamas, Hezbollah, and Qatar’s double game, and he warns Americans: “Don’t be naïve. They want our heads — and then they want yours.”

Chapters

00:00 – Welcome & Setting the Stage

01:30 – A Historic Moment for Western Civilization

04:15 – Netanyahu’s Leadership & Vision

06:45 – Echoes of Jabotinsky & Jewish Destiny

09:00 – Is the Iranian Nuclear Threat Eliminated?

11:15 – Rising Antisemitism in New York & on Campus

13:15 – The Qatar Double Game

16:45 – The Fight for the Hostages

18:30 – Post-Iran Strategy: Hamas, Hezbollah & the Region

22:00 – Peace with Lebanon? A Vision Beyond War

24:15 – The Israeli Spirit Amid Crisis

25:30 – Music, Shlichut & Spiritual Strength

30:00 – Leadership, Legacy & Jewish Faith

33:00 – Gratitude for America: Truman, Nixon & Eternal Bonds

35:00 – Farewell & Final Reflections

You can find the condensed transcript & summary of this episode and more episodes at 
https://open.substack.com/pub/thealgemeiner/p/the-clash-of-civilizations-ofir-akunis?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web

This episode of "The J100 Podcast" was produced by David Taragin.

In this gripping and timely episode of the J100 Podcast, host David M. Cohen speaks with John Spencer, one of the world’s leading experts on urban warfare and modern military strategy. Spencer, a retired U.S. Army officer and West Point scholar, shares powerful insights from his on-the-ground research in Gaza, his deep study of the IDF, and his analysis of the evolving face of warfare in the Middle East.

From October 7th to the Israel-Iran War, Spencer dismantles media misinformation, explores the psychological warfare of propaganda, and explains why the war against Hamas and the Iranian regime is about much more than just military objectives — it's about defending Western values and the integrity of truth itself.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to John Spencer and His Background

05:40 The Role of Misinformation in Modern Warfare

08:08 Israel's Military Strategy and Challenges

10:33 The Complexity of Hostage Situations in Warfare

13:09 Understanding Hamas and Its Current Leadership

15:39 The Dichotomy of Success and Failure in Israeli Defense

18:37 Strategic Decisions and Intelligence Failures

21:08 Iran and Hezbollah's Strategic Missteps

28:13 The 12th Day War: An Overview

32:21 America's Role in the Conflict

36:09 Leadership Decisions and Their Impact

38:37 Media Narratives and Public Perception

40:44 The Threat of Nuclear Weapons

42:32 Contrarian Views on Military Action

44:51 Risks and Realities of Military Operations

47:58 Future Predictions for the Middle East

50:04 Personal Insights and Reflections

You can find the condensed transcript & summary of this episode and more episodes at ⁠https://open.substack.com/pub/thealgemeiner/p/urban-warfare-truth-and-the-future?r=5m0oyd&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

This episode of "The J100 Podcast" was produced by David Taragin.

In this episode of the J100 podcast, host David M. Cohen interviews world-renowned journalist and commentator Erin Molan about her journey from childhood in Indonesia to the front lines of political discourse and media reform. Raised in the world’s largest Muslim country, Molan developed a deep understanding of cultural nuance, the power of storytelling, and the dangers of propaganda early on. Following the October 7th Hamas attacks, Molan emerged as a fierce advocate for truth, combating misinformation, antisemitism, and media bias with clarity and compassion. Erin opens up about the personal and professional costs of advocacy, our shifting media landscape and sense of journalistic responsibility, and the lasting emotional power of connecting people to truth through empathy. 

Chapters

00:00 Personal Connections to Israel and the Jewish Community

07:41 Understanding Perspectives on Anti-Semitism

13:45 The Role of Media in Shaping Public Opinion

17:41 The Journey from Sports to Political Commentary

23:15 Exploring New Media Ventures with X

23:39 Full Circle: A Journey Back to Roots

29:50 The Evolution of Media Consumption

30:12 Fighting for a Safer Future

32:40 Resilience and Personal Growth

33:32 Hidden Talents and Personal Insights

You can find the condensed transcript & summary of this episode and more episodes at⁠https://open.substack.com/pub/thealgemeiner/p/no-fear-no-filter-rewriting-the-media?r=5m0oyd&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true.

This episode of "The J100 Podcast" was produced by David Taragin.

In this episode of the J100 podcast, host David M. Cohen interviews Mark Dubowitz, CEO of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD). They discuss Dubowitz's background, the persistent threat of Iran's nuclear program, missed opportunities for U.S. support of Iranian protests, and the importance of U.S. strategy in shaping Iran's future. The conversation also touches on the challenges of verifying nuclear agreements, the implications of an Iranian nuclear weapon, and the dynamics of U.S.-Israel relations. Dubowitz shares insights on leadership and negotiation strategies, emphasizing the need for experienced teams in complex negotiations.

Chapters

00:00 Career Transition and Founding of FDD

09:10 The Impact of 9/11 on Personal and Professional Life

10:48 The Iranian Nuclear Threat: A Longstanding Concern

13:09 Missed Opportunities: U.S. Response to Iranian Protests

18:03 Strategic Approaches to Iran: Lessons from History

20:53 Negotiation Strategies: Trump vs. Obama

24:44 Navigating the Iranian Nuclear Threat

26:37 Differing Perspectives: U.S. and Israel on Iran

28:29 Verification Challenges in Nuclear Agreements

31:40 The Role of Regime Change in U.S. Strategy

33:18 Future Projections: Iran's Nuclear Ambitions

36:25 Public Perception of the Iranian Threat

40:09 Negotiation Strategies: Experience vs. Expertise

44:36 Leadership Lessons in Foreign Policy

49:02 Personal Insights and Historical Reflections

You can find the condensed transcript & summary of this episode and more episodes athttps://open.substack.com/pub/thealgemeiner/p/j100-navigating-the-iranian-nuclear?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web.

This episode of "The J100 Podcast" was produced by David Taragin.