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Call Me Back - with Dan Senor

Presenting the challenges and dilemmas facing Israelis and Jews around the world.

Hosted by Dan Senor

Subscribe to Call Me Back - with Dan SenorSubscribe

Episode length: 54m

The Muslim Brotherhood in the United States - with Lara Burns and Dalia Ziada

To understand the Muslim Brotherhood, and whether it’s operating in the U.S., Dan speaks with two experts from very different walks of life. Egyptian human rights activist Dalia Ziada now works with the Institute for the Study of Global Antisemitism and Policy as their Director in Washington D.C. Lara Burns spent more than two decades as an FBI special agent working terrorism cases. She’s now a senior research fellow with the Program on Extremism at George Washington University. They examine the debate over how to confront extremism while protecting the rights of Muslim Americans, and which political candidates are raising red flags. ___ Join us live in New York: On Wednesday, November 11, Dan and Amit Segal will record a live episode of Call Me Back at the Israel Hayom Summit at the InterContinental New York Times Square. The full-day summit focuses on the future of the U.S.-Israel relationship. Register at https://story.israelhayom.co.il/nysummit2026 and use promo code ISH50 for 50% off registration.

Episode length: 49m

A BLUE TSUNAMI - with Mark Halperin

The midterms delivered a stunning political blow to Republicans—but was it a rejection of Trump, a warning about the economy, or a sign that American politics is shifting in a more populist direction? Dan Senor speaks with Mark Halperin to unpack the forces behind the Democratic wave and what it could mean for the next two years. Halperin, a veteran political analyst, is editor-in-chief of the 2Way, an engine for participation-based live content and authentic communities, and a premium newsletter called Wide World of News. They explore what the Democrats’ victories could mean for the special relationship with Israel, and how the rise of its progressive wing could impact policy, both foreign and domestic. Dan and Mark discuss what comes next for President Trump, and they also look forward to 2028 to see who’s emerging as the frontrunner on both sides. Plus: could a pro-Israel Democrat win the presidential nomination? Read Mark’s Substack, Wide World of News. Check out Mark’s platform, 2Way.

Episode length: 47m

Three Dilemmas Facing Israel’s Next Prime Minister - with Tal Becker

Israel has spent the three years since October 7th in direct conflict with its enemies. But in the aftermath of its mother-of-all elections, it now faces three big dilemmas. In this episode, Dan sits down with Ark Media contributor Tal Becker to examine the branching pathways that confront Israel, as conflicts continue to mount–both internal and external. Plus, is the information war the most consequential one Israel’s next prime minister will face. ___ Join us live in New York: On Wednesday, November 11, Dan and Amit Segal will record a live episode of Call Me Back at the Israel Hayom Summit at the InterContinental New York Times Square. The full-day summit focuses on the future of the U.S.-Israel relationship. Register at https://story.israelhayom.co.il/nysummit2026 and use promo code ISH50 for 50% off registration.

October 2026

Episode length: 37m

Israel’s Election Is Far From Over – with Amit Segal

Israel’s election was a referendum on Benjamin Netanyahu. So why has the opposition fallen short—and could Netanyahu emerge with another government after all? Dan joins Amit Segal to unpack the surprising results, the political promises that may soon be tested, and the choices facing Israel’s political leaders as they try to break the deadlock. The opposition was energized and organized - why didn’t it translate into more seats? The historic Arab voter turnout reshaped the electoral math. Could Naftali Bennett or Avigdor Lieberman join forces with Netanyahu? Gadi Eisenkot’s bad options. Another election as soon as April, or a national unity government? Could the next confrontation with Iran change everything? ___ Join Dan and Rabbi David Wolpe this Thursday, October 29, at 7 p.m. ET for the first live session of Dan’s Book Club, where they'll discuss Amos Elon’s The Pity of It All. The session is for members of The Fold, Ark Media’s private community. Already a member? RSVP here: https://thefold.arkmedia.org/c/events/dan-s-book-club-live-the-pity-of-it-all.

Episode length: 1h 20m

Live from New York: The Mother of All Israeli Elections with Dan Shapiro, Bret Stephens and Dr. Dahlia Scheindlin

Join Dan Senor live on Israel’s election night. On Tuesday, October 27th, at 4 p.m. ET, just as the polls close in Israel and the exit polls come out, Dan and experts from Israel and the U.S. will break down the results as they come in. The conversation takes place in The Fold, Ark Media’s private online community where listeners of Call Me Back and our other shows meet, ask questions, and go deeper on what they hear. The event is open to members of The Fold. To become a member and save your spot, join here: https://arkmedia.org/fold ___ Today’s episode: Israel’s election is days away, but the country’s political future is anything but clear. Is Netanyahu the problem—or is something deeper changing in Israeli society? And when it comes to Israel’s standing in the world, security, and the relationship with the United States, do the country’s leaders and voters even agree on what matters most? Dan Senor is joined by a three-guest live panel from the Streicker Center at Temple Emanuel in New York City: (1) former U.S.

Episode length: 49m

Paris is Burning, but Europe Is In Denial - with Michael Moynihan and Simone Rodan-Benzaquen

French unrest reveals a society fraying at the edges, leading its citizens toward both political extremes. France’s inability to address its economy, immigration issues, and rising antisemitism aren’t going away anytime soon—and similar issues could be seen throughout Europe soon. Dan Senor speaks with Simone Rodan-Benzaquen, joining from Paris, and journalist Michael Moynihan, about the forces converging on France, the difficult choices facing French Jews, and the rise of political movements on both the left and right. Beneath the immediate crisis lies a bigger question: can Europe sustain the social and economic model it built after World War II, or is it reaching a breaking point? In this episode: Who’s really driving France’s unrest? Why antisemitism is a warning sign for Europe The European social contract is under pressure Do French Jews still have a future in France? Macron’s failure and Europe’s crisis of leadership Read Simone Rodan-Benzaquen’s article, The French Republic is Under Attack.

Episode length: 38m

Three Election Scenarios Nobody Is Talking About - with Gil Hoffman

The conventional wisdom is that the outcome comes down to two possibilities: Benjamin Netanyahu stays in power, or Gadi Eisenkot replaces him. But what if neither scenario happens? On this episode of Call Me Back, Dan Senor speaks with political analyst Gil Hoffman about three under-the-radar scenarios that could reshape Israel’s next government. In this episode: Could Eisenkot form a government without winning 61 seats? What role could President Isaac Herzog play in shaping the next government? Would a new and/or renewed war change the calculus for Netanyahu? What kind of a unity government might we see? Could Avigdor Lieberman somehow become prime minister? Read Gil’s book The Blood Libel Machine: Exposing the Anti-Israel Hate Network, and How to Fight Back. ___ This episode is sponsored by American Friends of Magen David Adom. You can support their important work at afmda.org/callmeback. ___ Get your tickets to a live taping of Call Me Back at the Streicker Center in NYC on October 22.

Episode length: 1h 5m

Dan Live from Michigan’s Temple Israel

Is this a turning point for Jews in America, and what happens if the country fails the test? Recorded live at Temple Israel in West Bloomfield, Michigan, Dan Senor brings together New York Times columnist Bret Stephens and Representatives Josh Gottheimer and Hillary Scholten for a candid conversation about the rising tide of antisemitism, the political forces reshaping American life, and the choices facing Jews and their allies. In this live conversation: Dan explains the three-step playbook behind the blood libel that still plays out today Bret Stephens reflects on reactions to October 7th, what it revealed about the Jewish community’s allies, and the meaning of becoming an “October 8th Jew.” Stephens explores the uneasy parallels between Jewish success in the diaspora and the sudden rise of antisemitism. Stephens reflects on how societies that condemn the Jews end up much worse in the aftermath. Dan Senor, Gottheimer, and Scholten discuss the consequences for both parties when anti-Israel rhetoric moves from campus protests into the political mainstream.

Episode length: 52m

Is the U.S. Winning the Iran War? With Suzanne Maloney and Mark Dubowitz

The US seems to have won the Battle of Hormuz; what would it take to win the Iran War? Seven months into the war, the US and Iran are locked in a high-stakes test of endurance, with the Strait of Hormuz, the global economy, and the future of the Middle East hanging in the balance. Dan Senor brings together two leading Iran experts, Mark Dubowitz and Suzanne Maloney, who sharply disagree on whether America is gaining the upper hand–or paying too steep of a strategic price. Their debate gets to the hardest question of all: Can the US win the war militarily and still lose strategically? In this episode: Two experts, two very different verdicts: Is Iran running out of options, or is Washington getting trapped in a war with no clear endgame? The Strait of Hormuz was supposed to be Iran’s ultimate weapon. Has the US really taken that leverage away? Why the Houthi threat could pull America deeper into a conflict it can’t easily contain Can economic pressure bring down the Iranian regime—or are ordinary Iranians paying the price while the regime holds on?

Episode length: 46m

Ask Me Anything with Dan Senor, Yael Bar tur and ChayaLeah Sufrin

Dan Senor is joined by Yael Bar tur and ChayaLeah Sufrin, hosts of the new Ark Media podcast Chosen People Problems, for a wide-ranging Ask Me Anything. They tackle questions about the state of Jewish education, the appeal of anti-Zionism among young Americans, why Fauda is shaping perceptions of Israel globally, and what the rise of the European right means for Israel and Jews abroad. In this episode: What American Hebrew school gets wrong Why anti-Zionism is resonating with young Americans Will the language around “genocide” and anti-Zionism eventually change? Why Fauda succeeds in telling Israeli stories better than non-fiction means What the rise of the European right-wing means for Israel and European Jews The unlikely allies Israel may need to turn to Which American presidential candidates could effectively navigate Israeli issues What the 2026 midterms might reveal about the Democratic Party’s direction Read the article discussed in the episode.

Episode length: 58m

Can Diaspora Jews Move On From October 7? - with Rabbi David Wolpe and Rabbi David Ingber

What does it mean for diaspora Jews to move forward from October 7th without becoming complacent or consumed by fear? Three years after October 7th, Dan Senor sits down with Rabbis David Ingber and David Wolpe to discuss what the aftermath has revealed about Jewish life in America. They discuss the growing sense of uncertainty among diaspora Jews, the tension between Jewish values and liberal democracy, the debate over Zionism, and how Jewish communities can respond with both moral clarity and openness. In this episode: Why October 8th became a turning point for diaspora Jews Has the relationship between liberal democracy and Jewish life fundamentally changed? The Jewish community remains divided over Israel, Zionism, and Jewish self-determination Can Jews hold onto hope without ignoring the warning signs around them? Re: Rabbi Angela Buchdahl’s Kol Nidrei speech, does Zionism need to be reclaimed? How do you distinguish moral clarity from paranoia when it comes to Jewish safety?

Episode length: 8m

3 Big Changes at Ark Media

Dan Senor and Ark Media CEO Ilan Benatar announce Ark+, our expanded membership; The Fold, our new private community; and the network's newest show, Chosen People Problems. Join Ark+ and The Fold: arkmedia.org/subscribe More Ark Media: Listen to: Call Me Back Listen to: Ark News Daily Listen to: For Heaven's Sake Listen to: Chosen People Problems (May need a link once the title is changed) Sign up for our weekly Newsletter Follow us on Social: Facebook I Instagram I X I TikTok

Episode length: 59m

Inside the Hostage Negotiations - with Brett McGurk

What really happened inside the negotiations to free the October 7th hostages? For 15 months, the Biden administration, Israel, Qatar, Egypt, and Hamas negotiated over one impossible question: how do you bring the hostages home while also fighting a war? Brett McGurk, who was at the center of those talks, joins Dan Senor to take listeners inside the negotiating rooms—from the first backchannel with Qatar to the deals that repeatedly came within reach and fell apart. He explains what he believes Washington got wrong, why public pressure sometimes made negotiations harder, and how an unlikely Biden-Trump transition partnership helped finally get a deal over the line. Purchase Brett's book Brink - https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/843630/brink-by-brett-mcgurk/ RSVP to our October 5th Virtual Announcement Event: https://arkmedia.org/rsvp/ Get your tickets to a live taping of Call Me Back at the Streicker Center in NYC on October 22. ___ Call Me Back is made possible by our subscribers.

Episode length: 50m

How Fiction Will Remember October 7 - with Lior Raz and Avi Issacharoff

How do you turn October 7th into fiction when it still feels like the present? For more than a decade, Fauda has turned the Israeli-Palestinian conflict into a global television phenomenon. But Season 5 takes on something different: two episodes that put its fictional characters inside the events of October 7th, while the trauma is still very much alive. Dan sits down with Fauda creators Lior Raz and Avi Issacharoff to discuss the responsibility of dramatizing a real catastrophe, what they chose to show—and leave unseen—and what happens when fiction begins to shape how the world remembers history. Read John Aziz’s Atlantic piece on Fauda here. ___ RSVP to our October 5th Virtual Announcement Event: https://arkmedia.org/rsvp/ Get your tickets to a live taping of Call Me Back at the Streicker Center in NYC on October 22. ___ This episode is sponsored by The Israel Democracy Institute: For resources on Israel's upcoming election and to learn more about IDI, visit https://en.idi.org.il/ Call Me Back is made possible by our subscribers.

September 2026

Episode length: 43m

Is the Iran-Sanctions Playbook Coming for Israel? - with Mark Dubowitz

Could the financial warfare playbook built to isolate Iran be turned against Israel? Twenty-four hours after Prime Minister Netanyahu addressed the UN, the organization expanded its settlement-business blacklist to more than 200 companies. It’s not a sanctions regime, but could it be the beginning of something much bigger? Dan sits down with Mark Dubowitz of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, who helped build the architecture used to isolate Iran, to discuss whether the same playbook could be used against Israel, how quickly targeted measures can escalate, and what Israel can do to stop it. Read Mark Dubowitz’s FDD report here. RSVP to our October 5th Virtual Announcement Event: https://arkmedia.org/rsvp/ Get your tickets to a live taping of Call me Back at the Streicker Center in NYC on October 22. —- This episode is sponsored by American Friends of Magen David Adom. You can support their important work at afmda.org/callmeback. Call Me Back is made possible by our subscribers.

Episode length: 9m

Sneak Peek: Amit Segal on why Israel can’t address its long-term problems, and more...

This is a sneak peek from the members-only edition of Inside Call Me Back. Dan and Amit Segal discuss the attack against Ambassador Leiter’s son, generational shift in American attitudes toward Israel, why Amit sees different forces driving younger Democrats and Republicans, and what Israel may need to change in its relationship with the United States. ___ Call Me Back is made possible by our subscribers. If these conversations are where you turn to understand Israel and the Jewish world, consider joining them. It's what keeps this show going. For the full episode, subscribe here to - Inside Call me Back ____ You can access the full episode here, where Dan and Amit answer listener questions about: - What actually divides Israel’s left and right today? - What would Netanyahu do if he lost? - Can the IDF convince Haredim that military service won’t change who they are? - Is the Haredi political establishment starting to crack? - Why are some Israelis willing to spy for Iran? - Could the road to Saudi normalization run through Yemen? ____ More Ark Media: Want to join Ark Media? Check out our careers page for new openings. Explore Israel Votes Listen to Ark News Daily Listen to For Heaven's Sake 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, Devan Schwartz, Ryan Lohr, Brittany Cohen, Mindy Schaper, Ava Weiner, Martin Huergo, Mariangeles Burgos, and Yuval Semo

Episode length: 46m

Is Israel’s Global Standing on The (Israeli) Ballot? - with Amit Segal and Nadav Eyal

Is Israel’s growing isolation abroad becoming a political problem at home? As Benjamin Netanyahu heads to New York for a brief UN visit just weeks before Israel’s election, Israel’s standing in the United States is deteriorating, even as Netanyahu’s political position at home has improved. Dan is joined by Nadav Eyal and Amit Segal to ask whether Israeli voters see the country’s growing international isolation with the same urgency as diaspora Jews, and how that divide is shaping an increasingly complicated election. Read Rep. Brad Sherman’s warning about declining American support for Israel here. Read Mark Dubowitz’s FDD analysis on how the financial warfare model used against Iran could one day be turned against Israel here. RSVP to our October 5th Virtual Announcement Event: https://arkmedia.org/rsvp/ Get your tickets to a live taping of Call me Back at the Streicker Center in NYC on October 22. —- This episode is sponsored by American Friends of Magen David Adom. You can support their important work at afmda.org.

Episode length: 47m

Naza: When a Film is the News

Can Israel confront what went wrong in Gaza when the accusations leave no room for conversation? In this special replay of For Heaven’s Sake, Donniel Hartman and Yossi Klein Halevi take on Naza, the explosive Israeli film accusing Israel of systematically disregarding civilian casualties in Gaza. After receiving a nearly 25-minute standing ovation at the Venice Film Festival, the film has ignited a firestorm over what happened in Gaza and how Israel’s conduct of the war should be judged. Donniel and Yossi wrestle with how to confront legitimate questions about Israel’s actions while rejecting a narrative they believe relies on unverifiable testimony, erases Hamas’ culpability, and leaves little room for moral reckoning. Subscribe to For Heaven's Sake. Get your tickets to a live taping of Call me Back at the Streicker Center in NYC on October 22. —- Call Me Back is made possible by our subscribers. If these conversations are where you turn to understand Israel and the Jewish world, consider joining them. It's what keeps this show going.

Episode length: 53m

Can Israel Learn the Lesson of 70 AD? - with Gidi Dar and Rabbi David Stav

Nearly 2,000 years ago, Jerusalem fell after political and religious divisions among Jews spiraled into civil war. As Israel heads toward another election after years of political upheaval, October 7 and war, Dan speaks with filmmaker Gidi Dar and Rabbi David Stav, a leading voice in Israel’s religious Zionist community, about the history depicted in Dar’s film, Legend of Destruction, and its echoes in Israel today. Where does the comparison hold, where does it break down, and can Israelis learn from the past before their divisions become even harder to bridge? This episode features extended scenes from Legend of Destruction. Watch the conversation and clips on our YouTube channel.

August 2026

Episode length: 45m

Who REALLY Made the Modern Middle East - with Simon Sebag Montefiore

How much of the Middle East’s history was actually shaped by the West? The story most of us learned about who created the modern Middle East is incomplete. Dan is joined by historian Simon Sebag Montefiore, author of The Cauldron, who argues that we give Western powers too much credit and the people of the region too little agency. In Part I of their conversation, they trace the forces that shaped the region, from the Ottoman legacy and the rise of nationalism to the Iranian Revolution and Islamism. Purchase a copy of Simon’s book The Cauldron here. Get your tickets to a live taping of Call me Back at the Streicker Center in NYC on October 22. —- In this episode: - Who really made the modern Middle East? - The myth of empire as a Western phenomenon - How the Middle East lost its diversity - Did the nation-state fail the Middle East? - Why Iran’s 1979 revolution changed everything - How Khomeini turned Islamism into a regional force ___ More Ark Media: Want to join Ark Media? Check out our careers page for new openings. Explore Israel Votes Listen to Ark News Daily Listen to For Heaven's Sake Listen to What’s Your Number? 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, Beth Pearlman, Brittany Cohen, Ava Weiner, Martin Huergo, Mariangeles Burgos, and Yuval Semo

Episode length: 43m

The Turkey-Israel Proxy War in Syria - with Nadav Eyal

With a weaker Iran, do Turkey’s regional ambitions put it on a collision course with Israel? Dan and Nadav Eyal analyze the shifting dynamics in the Middle East, focusing on whether Turkey’s President Erdogan aspires to become a regional superpower given the vacuum left by a weaker Iran. They discuss whether Turkey’s military is trying to move further into Syria, crossing what Israel considers a “red line,” Israel’s recent response, and the emerging Sunni axis between Turkey, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia. —- Get your tickets to a live taping of Call me Back at the Streicker Center in NYC on October 22. —- Call Me Back is made possible by our subscribers. If these conversations are where you turn to understand Israel and the Jewish world, consider joining them. It's what keeps this show going. Become a Subscriber - Inside Call me Back This episode was sponsored by the Jewish Communal Fund. Learn more about JCF’s donor advised funds at jcfny.org.

Episode length: 50m

ISRAEL VOTES: How the Mizrahi-Ashkenazi divide still shapes Israeli politics - with Mijal Bitton

How will current issues or past discrimination against Mizrahi Israelis influence this election? Dan and sociologist Mijal Bitton discuss the history, identity, and political narratives of Mizrahi Jews—whose families came to Israel from across the Middle East and North Africa—and how those narratives continue to shape Israeli politics. They unpack the factors of historical discrimination by an Ashkenazi elite, questions of economic opportunity, dignity and belonging of the Mizrahi community, and the Mizrahi devotion to maintaining the Jewish character of the state of Israel. —- Get your tickets to a live taping of Call me Back at the Streicker Center in NYC on October 22. —- Call Me Back is made possible by our subscribers. If these conversations are where you turn to understand Israel and the Jewish world, consider joining them. It's what keeps this show going. Become a Subscriber - Inside Call me Back This episode is sponsored by The Shalom Hartman Institute.

Episode length: 46m

Will Liberal Democracy Survive? - with Jonah Goldberg

Why have the classical liberal ideas that helped emancipate the Jews become so vulnerable? Dan is joined by Jonah Goldberg of The Dispatch to ask why classical liberalism, which is the political tradition that embraces equality, individual rights and restraints on government, has become so vulnerable. They discuss how the terms liberal, progressive and socialist got confused, and why they think the DSA agenda will fail. Goldberg also explains the economic and cultural forces he sees fueling populism on the left and right, whether America’s liberal tradition is strong enough to withstand them, and what its erosion could mean for Jews. Suicide of the West by Jonah Goldberg The Remnant podcast Capitalism and the Jews by Jerry Z Muller Get your tickets to a live taping of Call me Back at the Streicker Center on October 22. —- Call Me Back is made possible by our subscribers. If these conversations are where you turn to understand Israel and the Jewish world, consider joining them. It's what keeps this show going.

Episode length: 39m

The Hearing That Changed Everything - with Elise Stefanik

What will it take to confront antisemitism at America’s elite universities? Dan is joined by Congresswoman Elise Stefanik, whose 2023 questioning of three Ivy League university presidents became a defining moment in the debate over antisemitism on college campuses. Drawing from her new book, Poisoned Ivies, Stefanik argues that the crisis reflects decades of systemic ideological bias, failed leadership and money from Arab countries buying academic influence. They discuss what it will take to confront antisemitism at America’s elite universities, and whether government intervention risks creating new problems of its own. Purchase Congresswoman Elise Stefanik’s book here. Get your tickets to a live taping of Call me Back at the Streicker Center on October 22. —- Call Me Back is made possible by our subscribers. If these conversations are where you turn to understand Israel and the Jewish world, consider joining them. It's what keeps this show going.
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