Allison Kaplan Sommer, Don Futterman and Noah Efron discuss three topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week.

Listen to the Extra-Special, Special Extra Segment on Patreon

 

—Leading the Witness—

Police investigators strong-arm Benjamin Netanyahu’s one-time spokesman and media consultant to testify against his former boss, saying that if he doesn’t they’ll destroy his family and his life. Is the whole trial tainted?

—We Beat the Syrian Army, Surely We can Beat Climate Change—

The IDF gears up to take the lead in Israel’s response to climate change. Is that a good thing?

—Holding the Line—

By changing regulations, the government plans to make it harder for ultra-Orthodox leaders to make sure their followers use only “kosher phones.” Are Haredi rabbis and politicians right to be upset?

—Be Best, Israeli Style?—

For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion, we try to understand President Yitzhak Herzog’s new campaign to be nice on the internet, so as to “shine our inner light” on others. Is this anything more than presidential pablum?

All that and Ella Shik Blum!