Being Jewish with Jonah Platt

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Jew on Jew Hate and CNN’s Anchor Jake Tapper

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Nov 4, 2025

Guest

Jake Tapper

Jake Tapper, an Emmy Award-winning CNN anchor and bestselling author, engages in a thought-provoking discussion on politics and Jewish identity. He delves into the impact of the Virginia governor's race and the current state of both political parties. Tapper examines why non-Jews may hesitate to condemn antisemitism and discusses the prevalence of this sentiment across the political spectrum. He also shares personal stories from October 7th, touching on the emotional weight of his reporting and the importance of human connection in securing a Jewish future.

01:18:13

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Transcript

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Episode notes

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INSIGHT

Ancient Stories As Mirrors For Modern Mob Behavior

Jonah Platt compares biblical mob failures to modern social media mob behavior and warns it amplifies cruelty.
He argues these stories serve as mirrors, showing humans' tendency to abandon moral vigilance under fear or fury.

insights

INSIGHT

Disagreement Versus Disparagement

Platt distinguishes respectful disagreement from personal disparagement and calls online insults 'just being a dick.'
He insists public figures can handle reasoned critique but not identity-based attacks.

question_answer

ANECDOTE

Online Attacks On Rabbi Angela Buchdahl

Platt reads real comments attacking Rabbi Angela Buchdahl for her gender, background, and movement.
He uses these excerpts to show the depth of misogyny and anti-Reform sentiment among some Jews.

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Election Day Context and Guest Introduction

16:56 • 50sec

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Key Races and Why They Matter

17:46 • 2min

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State of the Parties: Republican Identity and Democratic Drift

19:22 • 1min

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Concerns About Zoran Mamdani and Jewish Reactions

20:52 • 4min

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Why Non-Jews Often Don't Condemn Antisemitism

25:09 • 46sec

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When Criticism Crosses into Antisemitism

25:54 • 4min

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Targeted Protests at Journalists' Homes

29:47 • 4min

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Political Strategy Behind Targeted Protests

33:30 • 2min

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Antisemitism Across the Political Spectrum

35:24 • 2min

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Balancing Coverage of Israel and Palestine

37:31 • 6min

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Haunting Stories from the War

43:06 • 2min

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Media Errors and Accountability in War Coverage

44:50 • 6min

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Jake Tapper's Jewish Identity and Formative Experiences

51:03 • 3min

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Family, Conversion, and Jewish Practice

53:34 • 4min

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Investigating Biden: Origins of Original Sin Book

57:50 • 6min

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Race Against Terror: True Crime Reporting

01:03:37 • 4min

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Five Deep Questions Introduction

01:07:45 • 29sec

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Regret About Parenting Interaction

01:08:14 • 56sec

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Fulfilled Ambitions and Career Satisfaction

01:09:10 • 20sec

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Challenges in Modern Journalism

01:09:30 • 44sec

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Parenting Principle: Unconditional Love

01:10:14 • 1min

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Creating a Secure Jewish Future with Human Connection

01:11:18 • 2min

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Who to Feature in the Kehillah Community

01:13:03 • 18sec

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Lightning Round: Favorites and Talmudic Memory

01:13:20 • 3min

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Challah: Rip or Slice Debate

• Mentioned in 11 episodes

Race Against Terror

Chasing an Al Qaeda Killer at the Dawn of the Forever War

Jake Tapper

#953

• Mentioned in 30 episodes

Original Sin

President Biden's Decline, Its Cover-Up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again

Alex Thompson

Jake Tapper

Original Sin delves into the untold story of President Biden's decline and the concerted efforts to conceal the truth from the American public. Authors Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson meticulously uncover the hidden realities within the Biden administration. They shed light on the President's waning capabilities and the lengths to which his inner circle went to project an image of strength and competence. The book also examines the disastrous decision to pursue a second term despite mounting evidence of his cognitive decline. Original Sin is a shocking exposé of power, deceit, and the perilous consequences of placing personal ambition above the well-being of a nation.

In this special Election Day episode of Being Jewish with Jonah Platt, Emmy Award–winning journalist Jake Tapper joins Jonah for a candid and wide-ranging conversation on politics, identity, and truth-telling in a polarized world. Best known as the anchor of CNN’s The Lead with Jake Tapper and State of the Union, Jake reflects on his decades covering America’s most defining political moments — from the Virginia governor’s race to the New York City mayoral election — and how journalism has evolved in an era of social media outrage and political echo chambers.

Together, Jonah and Jake explore the intersections of Jewish identity, antisemitism — past and present — and the evolving challenges of journalistic integrity in today’s press environment. Jake also opens up about his writing process and his latest books — Race Against Terror, which follows the pursuit of an Al-Qaeda killer, and Original Sin, his political thriller about a presidential cover-up during the 2024 election.

This episode is a deep dive into the ethics of journalism, the responsibility of storytelling, and what it means to stay empathetic and informed in turbulent times. It’s a timely, thought-provoking listen for anyone who cares about democracy, truth, and the power of Jewish values in public discourse.

Topics covered include:

Discussing Key Political Races
The Democratic and Republican Parties
Concerns Within the Jewish Community
Antisemitism in Politics
Personal Experiences with Antisemitism
Challenges in Media Reporting
Jake Tapper's Jewish Identity
Jewish High School Experiences
Jewish Summer Camp Memories
Interfaith Marriages and Family Traditions
Writing About Joe Biden
Race Against Terror: A New Book
Five Deep Questions with Jake Tapper

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