Unholy: Two Jews on the News

**This episode was recorded before the terror attack in central Israel** On Israel's Independence Day, Yonit and Jonathan talk to award winning author Matti Friedman about his new book, "Who By Fire: Leonard Cohen in the Sinai", in which he details the extraordinary episode of Cohen's musical tour during the Yom Kippur war. In the shadow of the Roe v. Wade row in the U.S. - how do Judaism and Israel view abortions. Why Israel in practice is more liberal on abortions than the U.S. Plus – we discuss Israel's slowly shifting its position on Ukraine, and which country (yes, a whole country!) receives the mensch award of the week? -- Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unholypodcast/and X: https://x.com/2jewsonthenewsJoin our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1150578065793142 Subscribe to our blog: https://unholypodcast.substack.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Yonit and Jonathan are back from Passover break and seder with a lot on their plate – We tackle Israeli PM Naftali Bennett's huge takeout bill, the results of the French Presidential election through the eyes of French Jews and French expats in Israel, and our mutual addiction to the series WeCrashed about Israeli entrepreneur Adam Neumann. We're joined by Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Ronan Farrow to discuss his recent piece for The New Yorker on NSO group, his groundbreaking reporting on the Harvey Weinstein case, his experiences in Jerusalem, and what it’s like to be a college student at age of 11. We also discuss Jonathan's new book coming out in June, "The Escape Artist" – the story of the man who broke out of Auschwitz to warn the world. You can pre order the book here:  https://linktr.ee/JonathanFreedland -- Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unholypodcast/and X: https://x.com/2jewsonthenewsJoin our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1150578065793142 Subscribe to our blog: https://unholypodcast.substack.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Just before they return from Passover break, Yonit and Jonathan revisit their conversation with Kara Swisher, the most influential tech journalist in the world. They discuss the big tech companies and their accountability (or lack thereof), U.S. politics, the success of Israeli tech companies, and tips on how to co-host a podcast…See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For Passover, Yonit and Jonathan revisit their conversation with intellectual icon Yuval Noah Harari. They discuss the future of humans, pandemics, climate change, corporations vs. governments, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, trans rights, and Yuval shares his secret of success…See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

**This episode was recorded before the terror attack in Tel Aviv** A week of political turmoil in Israel, Yonit and Jonathan are joined by Amit Segal, political analyst and bestselling author who broke the story that Naftali Bennett's coalition is now hanging on by a thread. They discuss the different scenarios that can unfold, Bennett's biggest mistake, and what are the chances for Benjamin Netanyahu's to make a comeback to the Prime Minister's chair. On the Ukrainian front, we discuss what President Zelenskiy's meant when he said that Ukraine will become "a big Israel"and for our mensch award we need to travel as far as the north pole... -- Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unholypodcast/and X: https://x.com/2jewsonthenewsJoin our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1150578065793142 Subscribe to our blog: https://unholypodcast.substack.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As Israel faces a new wave of terror attacks, Yonit and Jonathan are joined by Ehud Barak, former Israeli Prime Minister. He shares his insights: what can be done to break the cycle of violence, and why he is still optimistic about peace even though the signs point in the opposite direction. We discuss Israel's moral ambiguity on Ukraine, and what Barak Thinks should be the global plan to prevent a nuclear Iran. And for the mensch award of the week we go to the Oscars but make a surprising pick… -- Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unholypodcast/and X: https://x.com/2jewsonthenewsJoin our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1150578065793142 Subscribe to our blog: https://unholypodcast.substack.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Yonit and Jonathan discuss Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's speech to the Israeli parliament: he thought lawmakers weren't doing enough, they thought he said too much. Why the whole world should be concerned about the influence ISIS has on one terrorist in Be'er Sheva, and is this week's deadly attack a precursor to a new Intifada. In the mensch category we'll say goodbye to a venerated diplomat and trailblazer; our chutzpah nominee goes to someone who's won it so often we might name the award in his honor. And the most ancient Hebrew tablet excavated doesn’t include too many nice words… See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett stepping up his mediation efforts between Russia and Ukraine; the Biden Administration intensifying its crackdown on Oligarchs; and the internal debate in Israel rages on the issue of accepting Ukrainian refugees.   Yonit and Jonathan are joined by journalist and author Oliver Bullough, an expert on financial crime, to discuss Russian Oligarchs in Israel. We have a double mensch award and an attempt-- even under the shadow of a war in Europe – to celebrate Purim -- Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unholypodcast/and X: https://x.com/2jewsonthenewsJoin our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1150578065793142 Subscribe to our blog: https://unholypodcast.substack.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As the war in Ukraine intensifies, Yonit and Jonathan are joined by Pulitzer Prize winning author Anne Applebaum to discuss Zelenskyy, Putin, Bennett and the high stakes everyone is playing for. In this episode we also give a nod to Israel and Turkey's old-new bromance; we go to great depths to give a mensch award; and a chutzpah award you probably weren't expecting… -- Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unholypodcast/and X: https://x.com/2jewsonthenewsJoin our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1150578065793142 Subscribe to our blog: https://unholypodcast.substack.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Yonit and Jonathan are joined by Professor Scott Galloway, marketing guru and bestselling author, to talk Ukraine and Russia, U.S. and Israel, angry young men and big tech. And, as Jonathan braves a covid diagnosis, our chutzpah and mensch nominees this week are inevitably tied to Ukraine.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.