Think Twice with Jonathan Tobin
Think Twice with Jonathan Tobin is a podcast hosted by JNS Editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin. It offers deep dives into critical stories and controversies impacting the Jewish world, providing insightful commentary and interviews. The show aims to give listeners a fuller understanding of issues often misrepresented in mainstream media. It encourages audience engagement through newsletters and donations to support independent journalism.
Episodes
Jews were betrayed after Oct. 7 | Ep. 237
A half century ago, the Soviet Union and its Third World allies passed the infamous “Zionism is racism” resolution at the United Nations. Today, the same propaganda is regurgitated by academics, liberal media and pop culture figures who think they’re enlightened supporters of human rights. According to historian Gil Troy, who joins JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin on this week’s episode of Think
Ep. 236: Is Jewish unity in a polarized nation possible?
At a time when most Americans have lost the ability to listen to people with opposing views on political issues, how can a fractious Jewish community that is also split on denominational lines to pull together. That’s the question posed by JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin. He believes that Jewish disunity has been exacerbated by the capture of the political left—which is still supported by the m
Ep. 235: Three principles that allow the IDF to succeed can change your life
The secret to the success of the Israel Defense Forces involves many factors but according to JNS Israel military correspondent Yaakov Lappin, it involves creating a culture as much as the courage of its soldiers, air crews and sailors and their effective use of cutting-edge technology. Lappin, who has written about this in his recently published book, Blue Team Dynamics: Three Proven Leadership P
Ep. 234: Jews must stop cowering and starting fighting back
JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin wants to know what’s the bigger problem? Is it the global surge of antisemitism? Or is it the passivity of some Jews who recoil from active defense against their attackers or the willingness of others to actively collaborate with those who seek their destruction?
He’s joined in this week’s episode of Think Twice by Tablet magazine editor-at-lar
Ep. 233: A referendum on Netanyahu or his opponents?
The Oct. 27 Israeli election will be a referendum on the record of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. But according to JNS contributing editor Ruthie Blum, the voters will also be registering their verdict on whether they believe the promises of his opponents. Blum joins JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin on this week’s episode of Think Twice to analyze the upcoming vote.
According to Blu
Ep. 232: How antisemitism took hold in American education
Antisemitism in American education isn’t merely a matter of elite universities. It’s being tolerated and encouraged at colleges large and small across the country by woke administrators and faculty. But according to JNS Editor-in-Chief Jonathan Tobin, it’s also happening in K-12 schools, something that is being facilitated by teachers’ unions.
He’s joined in this week’s episode of Think Twice by
Ep. 231: A ‘Hidden Hand’ is guiding an antisemitic propaganda war
The global surge of antisemitism that followed the Hamas-led Palestinian Arab terror attacks on Israel was no spontaneous outburst of hate. According to JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin, it’s clear that it was not only the product of years of preparation by ideologues recycling Soviet-era propaganda aimed at delegitimizing Israel and Jewish rights. It was also the direct result of funding and pl
Ep. 230: Understanding Oct. 7 as a ‘collective descent into evil’
What should we be asking about what happened on Oct. 7, 2023, and its aftermath? According to JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin, the key issue is not only learning and understanding the truth about the horrific crimes that occurred on that day. Rather, it is how so much of the world reacted to it by siding with the perpetrators and against the victims.
He’s joined on this week’s episode of “Thin
Ep. 229: To defeat Islamist terror, it’s time to change the rules
Is it possible for America to defeat its Islamist enemies like the Iranian terror regime when they resort to asymmetrical warfare? And does President Donald Trump truly understand that diplomacy will never convince Tehran and its terrorist proxies to give up their war on the West? Those are the questions posed by JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin about whether the United States will resume
Ep. 228: American Jews need to get off their knees and fight
American Jews are facing an unprecedented crisis of antisemitism but according to JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin, that’s just part of the problem. What’s also wrong is that the majority of American Jews who identify as politically liberal, don’t seem to understand that continuing to support a party and a movement that spreads blood libels about them and defines them as “white” oppressors
Ep. 227: The rabbi who saved Soviet Jewry and reimagined American Judaism
Though overlooked because of the impact and fame of his charismatic successor, the sixth Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn was one of the most impactful figures in 20th century Jewish history. And he’s the subject of a new biography, Undaunted by Rabbi David Eliezrie, who joins JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin for this week’s episode of Think Twice.
Eliezrie,
Ep. 226: Why does the Israeli left endorse blood libels against their own country?
The question many supporters of Israel ask is one that Israelis struggle to explain, says JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin. How can a leading Israeli institution like the Haaretz newspaper justify their role in spreading blood libels against the Jewish state which help to bolster the efforts of those who are working to eradicate it and kill Israelis? He is joined in this week’s episode of Think
Ep. 225: Buck Sexton: The same trick that fooled millions is happening again
Totalitarian regimes such as those led by Communists and Nazis have something in common with jihadist terrorist organizations and politically fashionable leftist movements. They all use propaganda, scare tactics, the law and social isolation and pressure to convince people to passively accept the unacceptable as not just normal but an inescapable imperative. That’s a key insight of radio host Buck
Ep. 224: The West lacks the will to fight terror while Britain faces civil war
The United States and Israel achieved unprecedented military success in their campaign against that started earlier this year on Feb. 28. But, according to JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin, the American decision to stop the war due to the economic pressure Iran was able to exert via its menacing of shipping in the Strait of Hormuz revealed a bitter truth about the West’s ability to defend itself
Ep. 223: The biggest threat to Israel democracy is the Supreme Court
With Israelis set to go to the polls in a few months, an issue that has been on the backburner since Oct. 7 will probably again be provoking public debate in the Jewish state. An effort to reform Israel’s Supreme Court and judicial system enraged the opponents of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government in 2023 and is likely to be on the agenda again. Joining JNS editor-in-chief Jona
Ep. 222: Antisemites aren’t paying a price for their hate
The forces behind the mainstreaming of anti-Jewish conspiracy theories have gained a foothold in both major political parties. And according to JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin, there’s no sign of them being driven back to the fever swamps of the far left and the far right where they belong. Or at least not for the foreseeable future. He’s joined in this week’s episode of Think Twice by columnis
Ep. 221: To resist antisemitism, today’s Jews must become refuseniks
What can American Jews do to successfully respond to the surge of antisemitism that followed the Hamas-led Palestinian Arab attacks on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023? The answer, says JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin, may be to channel the spirit of activism that characterized the movement to free Soviet Jewry in the 1970s and 80s. He’s joined in this week’s episode of Think Twice by scholar and author
Ep. 220: American’s rageful Jacobins are the real threat to democracy
The problem for democracies throughout the ages has always been the rage and impatience of mobs with any limits on their power to act on their impulses. According to JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin, such movements have become a major factor driving not just divisive politics and threats to liberty but also antisemitism.
He’s joined in this week’s episode of Think Twice by law professor, Fox N
Ep. 219: Can Israel Beat the World’s Biggest Smear Campaign?
Israel has been put on trial every day throughout its history. But according to JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin, the case against it—including blood libels about it committing “genocide” or being an “apartheid state”—are nothing but myths and lies that can be systematically exposed and refuted by simple research and legal logic. He’s joined on this week’s episode of Think Twice by federal Judge
Ep. 218: Why won’t Jewish stars speak up against antisemitism?
In the aftermath of the horror of Oct. 7, 2023, one of the most discouraging things for embattled American Jews was the relative silence from Hollywood. An industry that was never slow to speak up about all sorts of other causes and filled with Jewish artists seemed curiously unconcerned about the assault on Israel and the subsequent surge of antisemitism. As JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin say
Ep. 217: Communism’s comeback and the surge of antisemitism
Why are so many young Americans saying they support communism and do they understand that the anti-Zionist lies they are swallowing were cooked up by Soviet propagandists a half-century ago? Those are the questions JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin is asking about the willingness of ignorant Americans who are embracing the Marxist war on the West. He’s joined in this week’s episode of Think Twice
Ep. 216: The seven deadly myths about the Iran war
The trouble with most reporting and commentary about the war the United States and Israel have waged against Iran is obvious, says JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin.
Liberal Journalists and members of the foreign policy establishment are so deranged by their hatred of U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that they’d rather the Iranian Islamist terror regime w
Ep. 215: Don’t be deceived: Anti-Zionism is antisemitism
The problem facing Jews today, says JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin, is that blood libels about Israel aren’t just being mainstreamed as they are becoming unchallenged tropes of popular culture. He’s joined in the week’s episode of Think Twice by scholar and educator Naya Lekht who argues that it’s a mistake to think that the current surge of antisemitism dates back only to the aftermath of the
Ep. 214: A handbook on how to fight back against the antisemites
Jews around the world are reeling from the unprecedented surge of antisemitism that followed the Hamas-led Palestinian Arab attacks on southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. They may feel helpless when confronted by the way the Jew-haters have mainstreamed tropes of antisemitism in order to demonize Israel and its supporters. But, says JNS editor-in-chief, the answer to this problem is not to give up. J
Ep. 213: Debunking Iran war conspiracy theories
At the heart of much of the opposition to the war the United States and Israel are waging to stop Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons and spreading Islamist tyranny with terror is a conspiracy theory. Both left-wingers and some on the right still believe in myths about Israel or the Jews manipulating American foreign policy, says JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin.
He’s joined in this week’s e
Ep. 212: Why people still love dead Jews
Jews shouldn’t have to choose between fighting antisemitism and bolstering Jewish identity. According to JNS editor-in-chief, the assertion of New York Times columnist Bret Stephens that the Jewish community should stop doing the former and concentrate on the latter is a false choice. They need, he says, to continue to do both, though, admittedly the critique of Jew-hatred is often badly executed.
Ep.211: Is Iran regime change a realistic option?
According to JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin, at the heart of much of the opposition to the joint U.S.-Israel strikes on Iran is general ignorance about the fanatical nature of the Tehran Islamist terror regime. Rooted in religious fanaticism, their sponsorship of terrorism and nuclear ambitions are non-negotiable to a government of theocratic tyrants. That makes it imperative that Washington c
Ep.210: Waiting for the shoe to drop on Iran
The main question to be asked about President Donald Trump’s foreign policy is not the immediate one about whether or when the United States will attack Iran, important though that may be. Rather, says JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin, it’s understanding that, his critics’ claims notwithstanding, far from being isolationist, Trump’s approach is one of selective use of force only when he perceive
Ep. 209: Will civil strife destroy Israel before its 100th birthday?
Is it possible for Israelis to overcome the differences that nearly tore the country apart before the Oct. 7, 2023 Palestinian Arab terror attacks? JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin points out that the divisive debate about judicial reform which helped encourage Hamas to strike on Oct. 7, was part of a culture war that pits liberal secular elites against the religious and nationalist communities
Ep. 208: It’s Time To Tell The Truth About Muslim Antisemitism
It's time to stop worrying about accusations of Islamophobia when discussing Muslim antisemitism. According to JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin, reporting and commentary on the shocking levels of Jew-hatred among Muslims has been silenced out of fear of accusations of racism and prejudice. But most of what is labeled Islamophobia is just truth telling about the way conspiracy theories and hate s
Ep. 207: The double game of the ‘American’ king of Jordan
According to JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin, understanding the anomalous position of the kingdom of Jordan requires balancing distaste for its strident public advocacy against Israel against its role as a strategic ally. Tobin is joined in this week’s episode of Think Twice by journalist Aaron Magid, the author of the biography The Most American King: Abdullah of Jordan.
Magid, who worked
Ep. 206: Subversion from both sides undermining Trump and the West
Progressives and far right conspiracy mongers have more than just antisemitism in common. According to JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin, those trying to subvert President Donald Trump’s agenda consist of not only the left-wing “resistance” leading an insurrection in Minneapolis. The same goal motivates China and its various allies and business partners like Qatar.
Tobin is joined in this we
Ep. 205: ‘Open borders’ advocacy enables antisemitism and violence
What’s been going on in Minneapolis is no coincidence, says JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin. The city which is in a virtual state of insurrection against the federal government’s efforts to enforce immigration laws is also the place where a massive fraud was perpetrated against American taxpayers by Somali immigrants with ties to a jihadist group and which is also represented by Rep. Ilhan Omar
Ep. 204: Drop Your Illusions: The Muslim World Wants To Eradicate Israel
How much has the world learned since Islamist terrorists murdered Wall Street Journal journalist Daniel Pearl in 2002? According to JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin, in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks there was a consensus that Islamist terrorism was beyond the pale. But the surge of support for Israel’s destruction after the Hamas-led Palestinian Arab terror attack on the Jewish state on Oct.
Ep. 203: Can Trump stop Turkey from blowing up the Middle East?
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has been playing a double game in the Middle East and with the United States, says JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin. Turkey continues to back Hamas in Gaza. It also hasn’t halted its intervention in Syria, where it has a vested interest in suppressing Kurdish autonomy in order to undermine that people’s efforts to throw off repression inside Turkey. But the
Ep. 202: Jonathan Tobin Answers All Your Burning Questions of 2025
Jonathan Tobin doesn’t hold back!
In this year-end "Think Twice" AMA episode, JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin takes aim at the Heritage Foundation’s flirtation with antisemitic voices, calling out conservative personalities like Tucker Carlson and J.D. Vance and exposing the mainstreaming of Jew-hatred from the left and right. He names names, tackles the rise of anti-Zionism in American politic
Ep. 201: Can the right unite against antisemitic hate?
Will the failure of leading conservatives to disassociate themselves from the increasingly antisemitic former Fox News host Tucker Carlson and even more extreme figures like Candace Owens lead to the movement being hijacked by hatemongers? That’s the question posed by JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin in the wake of the shocking defense of Carlson by Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts in
Ep. 200: Will Trump surrender to Qatar and the Muslim Brotherhood?
Are Americans comfortable with an administration that is ready to defend their nation’s sovereignty? That’s the question posed by JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin. The criticism of the Trump administration for its actions attacking terrorist drug smugglers and closing the border to illegal immigrants is, he says, rooted in the toxic Marxist idea that national sovereignty is a problem rather than
Ep 199: Tucker Carlson is the most dangerous antisemite in American history
Why are so many in a conservative movement that looked to a passionate Christian Zionist like the late Charlie Kirk for leadership now willing to turn a blind eye to or even rationalize the antisemitism of Tucker Carlson, Candace Owens and Nick Fuentes? That is the question that JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin has been pondering in recent months in the wake of Carlson hosting Fuentes on his pod
Ep. 198: American Jews must go from victims to fighters
Can American Jews shake off their defensive posture rooted in fear and a distorted conception of Jewish values to begin acting to both deter those who attack them and to convince them that the Jews are not easy prey for antisemitic thugs? According to JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin, that’s the question the Jewish community must confront of an unprecedented surge in Jew-hared in the two years s
Ep. 197: Feelings replaced thinking as antisemitism surges
How did supporters of Hamas and others who want Israel destroyed win over so many young people since Oct. 7? According to JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin, the answer lies in large measure in the ability of progressives to redefine words in such a way as to normalize Jew-hatred and help create a surge of antisemitism.
He’s joined in this week’s episode of Think Twice by scholar Donna Robinson
Ep. 196: Jews vs. Rome: Jewish disunity is fatal
Though the study of history is being slighted by contemporary educators, according to JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan S. Tobin, knowledge of the past, including that of the ancient world, is more important than ever if we are to understand current dilemmas. And that’s especially true in the Middle East.
He’s joined in this week’s episode of Think Twice by Hoover Institution scholar Barry Strauss,
Ep. 195: Mamdani’s Win: Can US Jews Reverse the Anti-Zionist Tide?
The victory of Zohran Mamdani is a watershed moment for American Jewry, says JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin. For the first time in living memory, Jews are dealing with a surge of antisemitism that the election of an avowed anti-Zionist will exacerbate. He is joined in this week’s episode of Think Twice by Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch of the Stephen Wise Free Synagogue in New York City, a leading libera
Ep. 194: Why antisemites and globalists hate Israel
Everything you learned about the horrors of nationalism and the importance of multilateral and supranational organizations like the United Nations is wrong, says JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin.
Much of the West has been taught to denigrate the idea of faith in a system of independent sovereign states after World War II and to support systems that undermine them. But the truth is that the most
Ep. 193: The Real 'Conspiracy' Israel Haters Miss (At Their Own Risk)
According to JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin, a growing number of otherwise marginal right-wing voices are joining forces with most of those on the left to bash Zionism and Israel. He is joined in this week’s episode of Think Twice by Breitbart.com’s Joel Pollak who believes that Zionism isn’t just a movement of Jewish rights but a model for how every group and nation can emphasize success rath
Ep. 192: Trump’s Gaza Peace Plan: Path to Peace or New Disaster? (w/Ruthie Blum)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had no choice but to go along with the scheme but believing that President Donald Trump’s 20-point plan for ending the war in the Gaza Strip can work still requires a leap of faith, says JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin. He believes that there’s little reason to think Hamas will free the hostages and surrender their arms and control of the Strip even if
Ep. 191: Has the October 7 trauma shocked American Jews into action?
The question facing American Jewry is which trend is more important. As JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin notes, a lot of American Jews have been shocked by both the trauma of the Oct. 7 attacks and the subsequent surge of antisemitism into increased activism on behalf of Israel and giving to Jewish causes. But on the other hand, a large number of Jews, especially progressives, are becoming more
Ep. 190: 'As a Jew' critics of Israel aren’t following in Wiesel’s footsteps
According to JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin, the release of a new documentary film called “Soul on Fire” about the life of Holocaust survivor, author, teacher and Nobel Peace Prize Winner Elie Wiesel couldn’t be timelier. At a time of an unprecedented surge of antisemitism and demonization of Israel, Wiesel’s example of courageous truth-telling is needed more than ever.
He is joined in the
Ep. 189: Are rabbis failing the Israel test?
When Jews gather in synagogues on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur this month, will their rabbis seek to rally them to stand with Israel and against the surge of antisemitism fueled by blood libels against the Jewish state? Or will they instead use their pulpits to virtue signal their support for the false charges of “genocide” being hurled at Jerusalem? Those are the questions that JNS editor-in-chie
Ep. 188: Foreign Money Behind The Chaos: Jewish Security Crisis Exposed
With mainstream media parroting Hamas propaganda about “genocide” in Gaza, the post-Oct. 7 surge in antisemitism is likely to continue to get worse, says JNS editor–in-chief Jonathan Tobin. Those blood libels are not only fueling the sort of Jew-hatred that is impacting students on college campuses but also raising the threat of more violence directed at synagogues, schools and other Jewish target
Ep. 187: A new surge of college antisemitism this fall?
Jewish students should expect to be confronted by more pro-Hamas mobs and antisemitism when returning to college this fall, says JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin. With legacy media mainstreaming Hamas propaganda and blood libels against Israel, it’s likely that the surge of antisemitism throughout American education that began after the Hamas-led Palestinian Arab attacks on Israel on Oct. 7, 2
Ep. 186: The threat from the death cult of Islam
According to JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin, Americans and many in the West seem to be blind to the threat posed by radical Islam and Islamist movements. Thanks to the successes of a red/green alliance that unites Marxists and Islamist antisemites who both hate the West, this attitude is leading to a fundamental shift that undermines the national identity of some nations and calls into questio
Ep. 185: Forget about aid for Gaza and hasbara; Just win the war!
If Israel’s plan for the “day after” the current war against Hamas ends is to secure a future of peace by pouring aid into the Gaza Strip, then JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin says Israel’s leaders are being delusional. That’s the same foolish mindset that led the entire Israeli military, intelligence and political establishment to believe that Hamas wouldn’t jeopardize the flow of cash and aid
Ep. 184: The Muslim Brotherhood’s threat to North America
Not enough attention is being paid to the way foreign funders and supporters of terrorism are infiltrating into North America. That’s the conclusion JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin draws from a new report about the growing influence of the Muslim Brotherhood produced by the Institute for the Study of Global Antisemitism and Policy (ISGAP).
He’s joined in this week’s episode of Think Twice by
Ep. 183: The Mickey Marcus story: We need Jewish heroes more than ever
Patriotism seems to be out of style in the United States and many young people are also being influenced by toxic woke ideas that falsely smear Israel as an illegitimate “apartheid” state. That’s why JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin believes we need examples of Jews who dedicated their lives to serving both America and Israel more than ever. He’s joined in this week’s episode of Think Twice by a
Ep.182: Alan Dershowitz: America needs to know this about The Epstein Tapes
According to JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin, Americans may be failing the Jeffrey Epstein Rorschach test. He says the eagerness of so many people to not merely jump to conclusions about the notorious case but to use it as a vehicle to promote antisemitism says a lot about contemporary America as well as the way Jew-hatred has been mainstreamed by the corporate media and popular culture.
He’s
Ep. 181: Israeli military analyst: What the generals got horribly wrong
With talk of a U.S.-brokered cease-fire/hostage release deal between Israel and Hamas in the news, JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin is asking whether the proposed agreement will allow the terrorists to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. Israel’s two main goals of the post-Oct. 7 war—freedom for the hostages and the eradication of Hamas—are still mutually exclusive. He says it remains to be
Ep. 180: Guy Benson: The dirtbag alliance hates Israel and America
Anti-Israel extremists on both the left and the right are becoming more vocal and dangerous. But, according to JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin, Zohran Mamdani’s victory in the New York City primary and the rebuff of Tucker Carlson by President Donald Trump, demonstrates that the left is far more dangerous right now.
He’s joined on this week’s episode of Think Twice by Townhall.com political ed
Ep. 179: Mamdani’s win is a warning sign of peril for Jews
Being someone who opposes Israel’s existence and favors legitimizing terrorism and antisemitism now means never having to say you’re sorry in New York City. That’s the conclusion JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin drew from the victory of Socialist Zohran Mamdani in the Democratic mayoral primary in New York City. According to Tobin, Israel’s enemies in the Middle East have suffered devastating de
Ep. 178: Fired for speech: The woke war on American education
In this episode of "Think Twice," host Jonathan S. Tobin, editor-in-chief of JNS.org, welcomes Professor Amy Wax, a tenured law professor at the University of Pennsylvania and a leading voice on issues of academic freedom, to discuss the increasingly narrow boundaries of acceptable discourse in America’s elite universities.
Ep. 177: Israel must take the gloves off in Gaza
As environmentalist extremist turned pro-Hamas activist Greta Thunberg’s refusal to watch the film of the atrocities committed by the Palestinians on Oct. 7, 2023 indicated, the Jewish state’s foes may not be interested in listening to the truth about the war in Gaza. But according to JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin, it is still imperative for pro-Israel advocates to continue to speak out and h
Ep. 176: Is the U.S.-Israel relationship heading for trouble? w/Ambassador Michael Oren
Can Israel afford to say “no” to the president who has been its best friend since the founding of the modern Jewish state? According to JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin, that’s a question that may have to be answered by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if President Donald Trump’s optimism about his negotiations with the Iranian regime is vindicated by events.
Ep. 175: How to Restore Civil Discourse – A Talmudic Guide
In the Internet era and politically bifurcated societies, is constructive disagreement, a concept that is at the heart of traditional Talmud study, even possible anymore? JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin admits that he’s skeptical about whether political discourse can be anything other than a zero-sum game in the current atmosphere.
Tobin is joined on this week’s episode by one person who beli
Ep. 174: America is back as the ‘strong horse’ in the Middle East
There were serious concerns raised about the way Israel seemed to have been sidelined during President Donald Trump’s recent trip to the Middle East. But JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin says that those worries need to be balanced recognizing that Trump has earned the trust of the pro-Israel community. He also believes that the substance of his policy address during the trip in which he said tha
Ep. 173: Investing in the Promise of the Jewish Future
How can American Jews help revive a community beset by assimilation and a declining sense of Jewish peoplehood among so many of its members? The answers to that have long been apparent, says JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin. Support for Jewish education, especially day schools, Jewish camps and trips to Israel is essential. But how can support for this effort be mobilized and energized?
One answ
Ep. 172: The October 7 wake up call for unity against antisemitism
According to JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin, the horrific Hamas-led Palestinian attacks on southern Israel that took place on Oct. 7, 2023 raise troubling questions about the reactions from the international community. Rather than rallying to Israel’s defense, much of the world responded with a surge of antisemitism that has impacted the lives of Jews around the world as well as isolating the
Ep. 171: Fight the antisemitic left with a return to faith
The willingness to succumb to antisemitism is always a sign of a sick society, says JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin. The mainstreaming of Jew-hatred in the media, popular culture and political discourse since Oct. 7, 2023 has created a perilous moment for Jews but it is also a sign of just how lost so many Americans have become. He believes what’s needed now is a willingness to understand that
Ep. 170: Oil's surprising role behind Oct. 7 and the Abraham Accords
Jonathan S. Tobin, Editor-in-Chief of JNS, sits down with Jennifer Sutton, Executive Director of the Council for a Secure America (CSA), to discuss the critical intersection of energy policy, U.S. energy independence and its impact on Israel and the broader Middle East.
Ep. 169: Trump is right to deport pro-Hamas foreign students
🔥 Trump’s Crackdown on Pro-Hamas Foreign Students – Is It Justified? | Think Twice with Jonathan S. Tobin & Benjamin Weingarten 🔥This episode of Think Twice is sponsored by The Jewish Future Promise — ensuring a vibrant and thriving future for Jews and Israel.Sign the pledge: https://jewishfuturepromise.org/sign-the-promise/In this episode of Think Twice, JNS Editor-in-Chief Jonathan S. Tobin sits
Ep. 167: Are Americans in danger of losing their freedom of speech? w/ Jonathan Turley
JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin is joined in this week’s episode of Think Twice by George Washington University Law School Professor and Fox News legal analyst Jonathan Turley, author of the important new book, The Indispensable Right: Free Speech in an Age of Rage. Turley’s book highlights the fact that almost from the moment the First Amendment was incorporated into the U.S. Constitution, the
Ep. 166: Israeli colonel has chilling message for the West
Hamas thinks it has won the war it started on Oct. 7, 2023. That’s the conclusion of Col Grisha Yakubovich, the retired Israeli officer and strategic analyst who joined JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin on this week’s episode of Think Twice. Yakubovich believes that Hamas intends to keep fighting to destroy Israel. That’s a fact that U.S. President Donald Trump needs to take this into account whe
EP. 168: Breaking the DEI binary in American education w/ Dr. Brandy Shufutinsky
Welcome to Think Twice, the weekly show hosted by Jonathan S. Tobin, Editor-in-Chief of JNS. This episode features Dr. Brandy Shufutinsky, Director of Education and Community Engagement for the Jewish Institute for Liberal Values.Topics Covered in This Episode:✅ The Rise and Fall of Woke Ideology: How DEI took over education, corporations and the arts.✅ Why Jewish Americans Are Targeted: How DEI’s
Ep. 165: Making sense of Trump’s Gaza plan w/ Alex Traiman
JNS Jerusalem bureau chief and CEO Alex Traiman had the privilege of accompanying Prime Minister Netanyahu last week for a historic meeting with President #Trump. Today, he joins JNS Editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin for a behind-the-scenes discussion of everything that was covered between the two leaders. They’ll go beyond the headlines for a deep dive look at vital issues that will affect the Jewis
Ep. 164: Author: Hostage Deal Continues Mistakes of October 7th
After nearly 16 months of war, a critical and comprehensive look at what went wrong on October 7th is yet to be done. What really were the crucial mistakes made on October 7th? Is Israel poised to repeat the same mistakes in the future? Is the hostage deal pushing Israel in the wrong direction strategically and morally?
To discuss all this, Jonathan Tobin is joined by Foundation for Defense of D
Ep. 163: Unpacking Trump's First Days & the Hostage Deal w/ Ruthie Blum
JNS senior contributing editor and “Israel Undiplomatic” co-host Ruthie Blum—a former adviser at the Prime Minister’s Office—joins JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin to discuss the first days of Donald Trump’s presidency and the complicated and not-so-perfect hostage deal between Hamas and Israel.
Will the Palestinian terror group remain in power and has Jerusalem lost the war as a result of the
Ep. 162: Melanie Phillips: 10 Steps the West Must Take In Order to Survive
What does the current antisemitism raging in the West say about Western civilization? JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin sits down with columnist and author Melanie Phillips to discuss her newest book, The Founder’s Stone, which takes a deep dive into this issue.
Phillips and Tobin unpack the political and spiritual crisis occurring and the ten steps that the civilized world must implement in ord
Ep. 161: Podhoretz: Biden Left Trump a World on Fire
What is the legacy of U.S. President Joe Biden? As President-elect Donald Trump is set to assume power on Jan. 20, inflation is rampant, wildfires destroy Los Angeles, the Middle East is on fire and the Russia-Ukraine war rages on.JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin sits down with John Podhoretz, editor of Commentary Magazine, to discuss the legacy of the Biden administration, Israeli Prime Ministe
Ep. 159: Will Trump Allow Israel to Win? w/ Victoria Coates
With President-elect Donald Trump taking office in just a month, the question arises of how victory can be achieved in the Middle East. Is it time to abandon the "peace process" with the Palestinians? What message needs to be sent to the Arab world? Will America allow Israel to win?JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin talks with Victoria Coates, a Heritage Foundation scholar, former Trump administra
Ep. 158: Whistleblower: How Trump Can Resist the Deep State Playbook
What can President-elect Donald Trump do to effectively combat the bureaucracy and deep state that runs policy in the United States?In this conversation with JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin, author Adam Lovinger discusses his new book, The Insider Threat, which explores the deep state's development within the U.S. national security and domestic policy apparatus and his personal experiences with
Ep. 157: BlueAnon: The Left’s Conspiracy Theories Target Jews w/ David Harsanyi
In this episode of "Think Twice," JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin and journalist David Harsanyi delve into the factors contributing to the rise of conspiracy theories in modern America, particularly focusing on the political left's susceptibility to such beliefs—including the claims of "genocide" in Gaza and the Russian collusion allegations against President-elect Donald Trump.Tobin and Harsan
