David Makovsky joins the Jewish People’s Podcast to discuss Netanyahu’s reversal on the Trump plan to disarm Hamas, what drove the decision, what it means for Gaza and whether it risks a new rupture with Washington.

Likud MK Dan Illouz has broken ranks with his party and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the coalition’s concessions to the ultra-Orthodox. He explains why he defied the party, why he won’t run with Likud again, and why he believes Netanyahu should have resigned after October 7.

Was Tuesday’s meeting between President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu truly “positive and productive”? Yaakov is joined by Shmuel Rosner and Gil Troy to break down the meeting, examine whether it gives Netanyahu a political boost ahead of Israel’s October election, and discuss the bigger strategic question: Is Israel being sidelined by the Trump administration as a new Middle East takes shape?

What should Israelis and the pro-Israel community be watching ahead of the 2026 U.S. midterms? Josh Kraushaar, editor-in-chief of Jewish Insider and Fox News political analyst, joins Yaakov to break down the key races, the shifting politics of support for Israel in both parties, and what JD Vance's recent rhetoric signals about the future of the U.S.-Israel relationship.

Former CIA operations officer Marc Polymeropoulos joins Yaakov to discuss renewed hostilities with Iran, the extraordinary reports of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's alleged Mossad recruitment, and what it reveals about modern espionage. We also examine what is working – and what isn't – in intelligence cooperation between Israel and the United States.

As Americans mark Independence Day, Gil Troy is joined by Dr. Anat Wilf for a special July 4th edition of the JPPI Podcast. Together, they examine the growing claims of a rupture in U.S.-Israel relations, asking whether recent political tensions represent a genuine strategic break or simply another chapter in a relationship that has weathered far greater storms. Drawing on history, diplomacy, and Zionist thought, they explore the deeper foundations of the alliance and what they reveal about its future. In the second half of the episode, Gil reflects on his new e-book, 250 Reasons to Be Grateful to America, celebrating the ideals, institutions, and enduring values that continue to shape the American experiment—even in an era of polarization and uncertainty.

In this episode, Yaakov speaks with Natalie Ecanow, a senior research analyst at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, about her new report tracing what she estimates is at least $400 billion in Qatari spending, investments, lobbying, grants, and commercial activity across the United States. From defense and energy to higher education, media, technology, sports, and even K-12 classrooms, Qatar’s footprint reaches farther than most Americans realize. They discuss how Doha has cultivated influence within America’s political, academic, and cultural institutions; where legitimate investment can become political leverage; and why that influence deserves greater public scrutiny.

A new Iran deal has left Israel alarmed and raised difficult questions about the future of the U.S.-Israel relationship. Gil Troy and Lt.-Col. (res.) Or Horvitz join Yaakov to unpack what is actually in the deal, how dangerous it could be, why President Trump has turned so sharply against Netanyahu, and whether there is any reason to see a silver lining in this new Middle East reality.

Has the Middle East fundamentally changed over the last two years? Yaakov Katz speaks with Nadim Koteich, a leading Arab journalist, former General Manager of Sky News Arabia and columnist for Asharq Al-Awsat, about Iran, Hezbollah, Lebanon, and what the region might look like after the wars that have reshaped it.

This week, IDF troops reached the Beaufort Ridge in Lebanon. But is that a victory? Yaakov Katz speaks with Dr. Seth Frantzman about Israel's endgame in Lebanon, the risk of a prolonged military presence, and how drone warfare is changing the battlefield.