In this episode, Yaakov speaks to Gal Beckerman about his new book, How to be a Dissident, and what its message means for countries around the world grappling with their future, including Israel as it heads toward another uncertain election. Beckerman argues that the real test of dissent isn’t theoretical. It’s personal: when the pressure builds, will you stand apart – or go along?

What should Israel’s long-term strategy look like after October 7? Drawing on the Henry Jackson Society’s “Israel 2048” report, Barak Seener joins Yaakov to lay out a vision for shifting from reactive deterrence to proactive power projection – integrating military strength with regional alliances, economic corridors, and technological leadership. The conversation explores whether Israel can translate battlefield success into lasting strategic advantage, and what kind of state it aims to be by its 100th anniversary.

Who won the war with Iran – and what comes next? Yaakov is joined by Avner Vilan, who spent two decades inside Israel’s defense and intelligence establishment working to undermine Iran’s nuclear program. Together, they break down what was achieved, what wasn’t, and where things go from here.

Israel and the U.S. inflicted serious damage on Iran’s military and nuclear infrastructure – but was that enough to change the region for good? In this episode, Gil Troy and Shmuel Rosner join Yaakov to discuss whether the battlefield gains can now be turned into a real strategic success through diplomacy, pressure on the regime, and the high-stakes negotiations still to come.

As the regional landscape continues to shift, our expert panel will provide critical insights into the military, political, and diplomatic dimensions of the war, as well as the broader implications for Israel’s security and international standing. The discussion will feature a distinguished group of JPPI experts and senior figures with decades of experience at the highest levels of government, intelligence, and media.

Dennis Ross, Ambassador and co-chairman of JPPI’s Board of Directors, who served as Director of Policy Planning under U.S. President George H. W. Bush, Special Middle East Coordinator under President Bill Clinton, and Special Adviser on the Persian Gulf and Southwest Asia to former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Yaakov Katz, JPPI senior fellow, the author of four books on the Israeli military and former editor-in-chief of The Jerusalem Post.

Miri Eisin, retired colonel in the Israel Defense Forces and former foreign media adviser to Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, the first woman in Israel’s history to hold this position.

LTC (Ret.) Or Horvitz, JPPI senior fellow and former Head of the Hezbollah and Lebanon Branch (2022–2024), who later served as Senior Adviser to the Director of Israel Defense Intelligence (2024–2026), where he played a central role in post-October 7 transformation processes and Israel’s campaigns against Hezbollah and Iran.

Together, the panel will explore key questions shaping the next phase of the war, including the effectiveness of current military strategies, the role of international actors, and the strategic recalibrations required for long-term stability in the Middle East.

What have we really learned from Iran’s missile campaign? In this episode, missile expert Tal Inbar breaks down why cluster munitions are so difficult to intercept, how Israel’s air defense systems are performing under real wartime pressure, and what this all means for the future of Israeli strategy - including the growing case for a dedicated offensive missile corps.

As the war drags on, the big questions are only getting sharper: Is there a real strategy? What does victory actually look like? And how long can Israeli society sustain this? I’m joined by Shmuel Rosner and Gil Troy for a candid conversation about the gap between goals and reality, how this war might end, and the limits of national resilience.

What does “winning” a war with Iran actually mean? Dennis Ross breaks down the possible endgames - from nuclear concessions to control of the Strait of Hormuz - and what the conflict means for U.S. politics and regional normalization.

As Israel continues to fight a war on multiple fronts, a critical question is emerging at home: What kind of country is it becoming in the process? In this episode, Yaakov speaks with Prof. Dan Ben-David of the Shoresh Institute and Tel Aviv University about the government’s decision to allocate 5 billion shekels to the Haredi sector in the middle of the war — and what that reveals about Israel’s priorities.

As Israel fights a historic war with Iran, deeper questions are emerging about the country’s future. What kind of Israel will take shape after this conflict? What does the war reveal about Israel’s strengths and limits? And as the country moves toward another election cycle, how might the war reshape its politics and leadership? To unpack these questions, Yakkov is joined by Dr. Einat Wilf - former Knesset member, political thinker, and one of the most insightful voices in Israel’s strategic debate.