J100 Podcast

What do the polls really tell us about America's political future — and where does Israel fit into the picture?Mark Penn, chairman and CEO of Stagwell, longtime presidential strategist, and co-director of the Harvard CAPS/Harris Poll, joins the J100 podcast for a wide-ranging conversation about elections, political leadership, and the shifting American electorate.Drawing on decades of advising presidents and world leaders, Penn examines the stakes of Israel's election and the upcoming US midterms, the challenges facing Benjamin Netanyahu, and the emerging contenders for the 2028 presidential race.He also explains why political polls are often misunderstood, what the data reveals about American support for Israel, and why shifting attitudes within the Democratic Party could have lasting consequences for US-Israel relations.From lessons learned working with Bill Clinton to the future of Donald Trump's presidency, antisemitism, voter turnout, and the Iranian threat, Penn offers an insider's perspective on the forces shaping politics in both countries.Recorded shortly before Israel's October 27 election.Brought to you by The Algemeiner.Chapters:00:00 Cold Open: What the Polls Are Missing00:25 Meet Mark Penn: His Career & Lessons from World Leaders08:32 Reagan, Clinton, Trump & the 2028 Presidential Race16:36 Israel's Election vs. the US Midterms20:07 Why Polls Get Elections Wrong & the Power of Voter Turnout27:40 Michigan's Senate Race & Anti-Israel Campaign Messaging29:30 What Americans Really Think About Israel36:06 Anti-Israel Politics, the Democratic Party & John Fetterman40:26 Lightning Round & America's Political Future44:54 Tony Blair's Warning About Iran & Trump's Next MoveYou can find the condensed transcript & summary of this episode and more episodes at https://thealgemeiner.substack.com/p/mark-penn-on-israels-election-the?r=5m0oyd&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=trueThis episode of "The J100 Podcast" was produced by David Taragin.

What does it take to build a stronger Jewish future — and why might fighting antisemitism not be enough?Michael Broukhim, co-founder of FabFitFun and partner at Deep33, joins the Algemeiner's J100 podcast for a wide-ranging conversation about entrepreneurship, Jewish identity, Harvard, Iran, artificial intelligence, and the future of Israel.Born in Los Angeles to Persian Jewish immigrants who fled Iran's Islamic Revolution, Broukhim went on to study at Harvard and build FabFitFun alongside his brother. But after October 7, his growing concern for the Jewish future took on a new urgency.Broukhim reflects on Harvard's ideological transformation, his family's encounter with online antisemitism, and his efforts to connect Jewish entrepreneurs and community leaders. He also explains why he believes Jewish communities must move beyond a purely defensive posture toward creating institutions, sharing Jewish wisdom, and cultivating confidence and joy.The conversation explores his new $200 million investment fund, Deep33, his conviction that American and Israeli innovation will help shape the AI era, the challenges of building a business with family, and his deeply optimistic vision for Israel's future.A conversation about success, responsibility, resilience, and what it means to build something that lasts. Chapters:00:00 – From Iran to FabFitFun 10:13 – Harvard and Campus Antisemitism 17:59 – October 7 and Jewish Identity 24:30 – Building Jewish Strength 30:52 – Family, Business and Brotherhood 34:39 – AI, Deep33 and the Future of Technology48:14 – Israel's Future, Faith and Jewish PurposeYou can find the condensed transcript & summary of this episode and more episodes at https://thealgemeiner.substack.com/p/why-the-jewish-future-must-be-built?r=5m0oyd&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=trueThis episode of "The J100 Podcast" was produced by David Taragin.

Israeli tech pioneer and philanthropist Yossie Hollander joins the J100 Podcast to discuss the early days of Startup Nation, why he walked away from the pursuit of greater wealth, the changing nature of antisemitism, October 7, and his argument that Israel must become far more serious about the global “soft war” for public opinion.Chapters:00:00 — Cold Open: Winning the Kinetic War, Losing the Soft War02:10 — Yossie Hollander: From Early Israel to Startup Nation10:40 — Walking Away From Business: Why Hollander Chose Philanthropy17:01 — Antisemitism, Israel & the Jewish Future22:05 — The “Soft War”: Foreign Influence & Information Warfare37:09 — Jewish Pride vs. Fighting Antisemitism45:32 — October 7, Its Aftermath & the Battle for Public Opinion50:41 — Israel’s Internal Divisions & the Haredi Question52:15 — Lightning Round: Chutzpah, AI & Israel’s FutureYou can find the condensed transcript & summary of this episode and more episodes at https://thealgemeiner.substack.com/p/the-war-israel-isnt-fighting-yossieThis episode of "The J100 Podcast" was produced by David Taragin.

Australian investigative journalist Sharri Markson joins The Algemeiner’s J100 podcast for a deeply personal conversation about the Bondi terror attack, the rise of antisemitism in Australia, and the stories behind her new book, “Bondi Terror”.Markson recounts being nearby with her young children as the shooting unfolded, reporting live from Bondi Beach that night, and the emotional toll of covering an attack on her own community. She also reflects on extraordinary acts of courage she uncovered afterward, the warning signs she believes authorities missed, how October 7 transformed her journalism, media coverage of Israel, AI and trust in news, and the changing reality for Jewish Australians.Chapters00:00 — “You Expect to Be Safe at Bondi”00:32 — Sharri Markson & a Life in Journalism07:01 — AI, Deepfakes & Trust in Media09:37 — Inside the Bondi Terror Attack13:59 — Missed Warnings & Fighting Antisemitism21:41 — Reporting Trauma, Faith & Heroism34:12 — October 7 & the Media41:09 — Why Bondi Terror Became a Book45:07 — Jewish Life in Australia Today47:50 — Rapid Fire, Changing Her Mind & Social MediaYou can find the condensed transcript & summary of this episode and more episodes at https://thealgemeiner.substack.com/p/inside-bondi-terror-sharri-markson?r=5m0oyd&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=trueThis episode of "The J100 Podcast" was produced by David Taragin.

Nassau County Executive and Republican gubernatorial nominee Bruce Blakeman joins the J100 podcast from his campaign headquarters to discuss New York’s future, Kathy Hochul, Zohran Mamdani, President Trump, Israel, antisemitism and the Jewish identity that shapes his politics.Chapters00:00 — Cold Open & Introduction02:10 — Mamdani, Antisemitism & Public Safety04:41 — Can a Republican Win New York?07:33 — New York’s “Death Spiral”09:02 — Trump, Courage & Leadership11:35 — Israel, Antisemitism & the Democratic Party15:52 — Jewish Identity, Faith & Leadership17:03 — Two Types of Antisemitism & BDS19:19 — Rapid FireYou can find the condensed transcript & summary of this episode and more episodes at https://thealgemeiner.substack.com/p/bruce-blakeman-on-new-yorks-death?r=5m0oyd&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=trueThis episode of "The J100 Podcast" was produced by David Taragin.

Alyssa Rosenheck joins the J100 podcast to discuss her new book ‘White. Blonde. Jew.’, the experiences that shaped her Jewish identity, post–October 7 advocacy, antisemitism, Israel, misinformation, and why she believes courage begins locally.This episode was recorded before a live audience in the Hamptons.Chapters00:00 — Finding Her Voice as a Young Jew05:39 — Why She Called the Book White. Blonde. Jew.08:16 — The Stories That Almost Didn’t Make the Book12:20 — Why Jewish Advocacy Has to Start Locally15:16 — October 7, Israel, and the Cost of Speaking Out19:03 — Rabbi Sacks, Responsibility, and Jewish Resilience21:23 — BDS, Identity Politics, and the Battle Over Narratives30:02 — Fighting Misinformation: The P.A.C.E. Method32:12 — Audience Q&A: Hope, Young Jews, Listening, and Fighting BackYou can find the condensed transcript & summary of this episode and more episodes at  https://thealgemeiner.substack.com/p/i-let-the-haters-title-the-book-alyssa?r=5m0oyd&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true This episode of "The J100 Podcast" was produced by David Taragin.

Former Jerusalem Deputy Mayor Fleur Hassan-Nahoum joins the J100 podcast for a wide-ranging conversation about Israel’s battle over global narratives, growing hostility toward Jewish students on Western campuses, the future of Diaspora Jewry, Netanyahu and Israeli politics, Haredi integration, Iran, women in leadership, and what separates genuine leadership from performance.Recorded earlier at The Algemeiner’s New York offices.00:00 — From Gibraltar to Jerusalem07:05 — Entering Israeli Politics15:03 — The Campus Crisis20:32 — October 7 & Israel’s Narrative War24:37 — Netanyahu & Israeli Leadership27:23 — Campus Israel & the Diaspora35:22 — Haredim, Women & Israeli Society45:03 — Iran, Trump & the War49:49 — Leadership, Listening & Building BridgesYou can find the condensed transcript & summary of this episode and more episodes at  https://thealgemeiner.substack.com/p/israels-narrative-war-the-campus?r=5m0oyd&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=trueThis episode of "The J100 Podcast" was produced by David Taragin.

As the Jewish world marks 50 years since the raid on Entebbe, former Mossad officer, Israeli Air Force veteran, and psychologist Glenn Cohen joins J100 to discuss hostage rescue, ambiguous loss, trauma, resilience, and what it means to help survivors come home.You can find the condensed transcript & summary of this episode and more episodes at  https://open.substack.com/pub/thealgemeiner/p/glenn-cohen-on-hostages-trauma-and?r=5m0oyd&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=trueThis episode of "The J100 Podcast" was produced by David Taragin.

Former U.S. Treasury Assistant Secretary Mitchell Silk joins J100 for an in-person conversation about his extraordinary path from working in Chinese restaurants as a teenager to becoming a senior American official involved in China trade negotiations, global finance, infrastructure, fintech, and CARES Act relief.Silk reflects on his Hasidic identity, his grandfather’s influence, his years in Asia-focused law and finance, his work at the Treasury Department, the future of U.S.-China relations, Israel’s economic importance, antisemitism in financial markets, digital currency, and his new book A Seat at the Table.Chapters00:00 Israel, America, and Economic Opportunity01:22 Introduction04:04 From Chinese Restaurant to China Expert10:09 Law School, China, and Early Career15:00 Jewish Identity and Hasidic Roots19:09 Being Observant in Big Law22:35 Energy, Infrastructure, and Innovation31:29 The Path to Treasury37:48 U.S.-China Relations and Trade46:29 Inside the Treasury Department49:10 Israel, Fintech, and the Abraham Accords50:46 U.S.-Israel Relations and Financial Antisemitism55:24 Digital Currency and the U.S. Dollar57:44 Why He Wrote A Seat at the TableYou can find the condensed transcript & summary of this episode and more episodes at  https://open.substack.com/pub/thealgemeiner/p/from-chinese-restaurant-dishwasher?r=5m0oyd&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=trueThis episode of "The J100 Podcast" was produced by David Taragin.

Dr. Gad Saad joins the J100 Podcast for a wide-ranging conversation centered on his new book, Suicidal Empathy.From growing up Jewish in Beirut during the Lebanese Civil War to becoming one of the most recognizable public intellectuals in the world today, Saad reflects on the experiences and ideas that shaped his worldview.The conversation explores:the psychological roots of ideological possessionwhy people become detached from survival instinctsthe relationship between emotion and reasonacademia and intellectual conformitysocial media and modern persuasionanti-Semitism and the psychology of scapegoatingCanada’s cultural declineElon Musk, authenticity, and freedomIsrael, October 7th, and the West’s moral confusionSaad also explains the evolutionary logic behind concepts like “suicidal empathy,” “wood cricket Jews,” and “parasitic ideas,” while offering a broader framework for understanding the current cultural moment.This is a conversation about human nature, civilization, freedom, and what happens when societies lose the ability to distinguish compassion from self-destruction.Chapters00:00 — The Parasite in the Mind01:33 — Introducing Dr. Gad Saad06:24 — Growing Up Jewish in Beirut & Reinventing in Montreal14:19 — Academia, Ambition & Rejecting Materialism22:08 — The Parasitic Mind vs. Suicidal Empathy30:08 — Ideological Parasites, “Wood Cricket Jews” & Civilizational Self-Destruction39:14 — Social Media, Elon Musk & Speaking Beyond Academia49:01 — Universities, Ideology & the Collapse of Intellectual Diversity58:37 — Israel, Antisemitism & Why Jews Become ScapegoatsYou can find the condensed transcript & summary of this episode and more episodes at  https://open.substack.com/pub/thealgemeiner/p/dr-gad-saad-on-freedom-academia-elon?r=5m0oyd&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=trueThis episode of "The J100 Podcast" was produced by David Taragin.