Advertise on podcast: Call Me Back - with Dan Senor

Subscribe to Inside Call me Back. ____ Subscribe to Ark News Daily ____ Will the Iran War reshape American politics? How could it affect the future of U.S -Israel relations? Dan is joined by New York Times columnist Ross Douthat to examine how the Iran War is influencing both parties. They unpack why support for the war tracks with support for President Trump, why protests have been surprisingly muted, and how the war is accelerating existing political trends. Listen to Ross’ podcast Interesting Times with Ross Douthat In this episode: - Where American public opinion on the Iran War stands today - Why there’s been little protest compared to past wars - How the war is accelerating political trends, not transforming them - The growing divide on Israel within the Democratic coalition - The emerging fracture on the right over intervention and Israel - The generational divide among younger conservatives - Whether the far left and far right could align politically - What “just war” theory is and why it matters now - What this all means for the future of the Republican Party This episode was sponsored by United Hatzalah. Donate today at IsraelRescue.org/CallMeBack. Add this number to your phone right now if you live in Israel – 1221, and for those visiting it’s 972-2-5-383838. More Ark Media: Want to join Ark Media? Check out our careers page for new openings. Explore Israel Votes Listen to For Heaven's Sake Listen to What’s Your Number? Watch Call me Back on YouTube Newsletters | Ark Media | Amit Segal | Nadav Eyal Instagram | Ark Media | Dan X | Dan Dan Senor & Saul Singer’s book, The Genius of Israel Get in touch Credits: Ilan Benatar, Adaam James Levin-Areddy, Brittany Cohen, Ava Weiner, Martin Huergo, Mariangeles Burgos, and Yuval Semo

Subscribe to Inside Call me Back. ____ Subscribe to Ark News Daily ____ What does grief actually look like, and what does it mean to live with it? In this live conversation recorded at Temple Emanu-El Streicker Center on the eve of Yom HaZikaron, Rachel Goldberg-Polin joins Dan Senor to reflect on love, loss, faith, and the story behind her new book, about the loss of her son, Hersh, who was taken hostage on October 7 and later killed in captivity. This conversation explores how Rachel understands suffering, why she rejects the idea that grief “gets better,” and how she holds onto faith, love, and what she calls “tragic optimism.” It is a raw and deeply human discussion about what remains when everything changes, and what it means to keep going. Purchase Rachel’s book here: When We See You Again. In this episode: - Life before October 7 and the meaning of Shabbat in Rachel’s family - The morning of October 7 and the moment everything changed - What it was like to advocate for Hersh while he was in captivity - The discovery that Hersh knew his family was fighting for him - The night Rachel and her family learned he had been killed - Why Rachel rejects the idea that grief fades over time - “Toxic positivity” vs. “tragic optimism” - What grief really is, and what it reveals about love This episode is sponsored by American Friends of Israel Navy SEALs (AFINS). For a brief video on Buddy Line and to support the program, visit AFINS.us/warriorcare.  More Ark Media: Want to join Ark Media? Check out our careers page for new openings. Explore Israel Votes Listen to For Heaven's Sake Listen to What’s Your Number? Watch Call me Back on YouTube Newsletters | Ark Media | Amit Segal | Nadav Eyal Instagram | Ark Media | Dan X | Dan Dan Senor & Saul Singer’s book, The Genius of Israel Get in touch Credits: Ilan Benatar, Adaam James Levin-Areddy, Brittany Cohen, Ava Weiner, Martin Huergo, Mariangeles Burgos, and Yuval Semo

Subscribe to Inside Call me Back to listen to our 4-part series with Ronen Bergman.  ____ Subscribe to Ark News Daily ____ What do we owe the stories of people who sacrificed everything, even when they did not succeed? As Israel approaches Yom Hazikaron after two and a half years of war, Dan speaks with author and journalist Matti Friedman about one of the most iconic and least understood stories in Israeli history: the parachutists of 1944. At the center is Hannah Senesh, whose name became synonymous with courage, even though the mission itself failed in military terms. Purchase Matti’s book here.  In this episode: 02:40 – The real story behind Hannah Senesh and the parachutists of 1944 06:20 – The 1944 parachutist mission 08:40 – How Israel turned this mission into a national myth 14:10 – Why the mission had no clear or achievable objective 17:00 – How the parachutists understood their role as shaping a future story 27:20 – What Hannah Senesh’s life and death reveal about sacrifice 29:00 – Why the parachutists chose to act despite knowing they would likely fail 32:10 – What this story offers Israelis after October 7 This episode is sponsored by the IDF Widows and Orphans Organization. Learn more and support their work at idfwo.org. More Ark Media: Want to join Ark Media? Check out our careers page for new openings. Explore Israel Votes Listen to For Heaven's Sake Listen to What’s Your Number? Watch Call me Back on YouTube Newsletters | Ark Media | Amit Segal | Nadav Eyal Instagram | Ark Media | Dan X | Dan Dan Senor & Saul Singer’s book, The Genius of Israel Get in touch Credits: Ilan Benatar, Adaam James Levin-Areddy, Brittany Cohen, Ava Weiner, Martin Huergo, Mariangeles Burgos, and Yuval Semo

For the full episode, subscribe here to Inside Call me Back. ____ Subscribe to Ark News Daily ____ This is a sneak peek from the members-only edition of Inside Call Me Back, the final installment of our four-part series with Ronen Bergman. After the U.S. exits the JCPOA, Israel and the U.S. launch a campaign of sanctions, sabotage, and targeted assassinations, what Bergman calls “death by a thousand cuts.” In this preview, Bergman details the AI-assisted assassination of Iran’s top nuclear scientist and why, despite the scale and sophistication of the operation, it was not enough to stop Iran’s nuclear program. More Ark Media: Want to join Ark Media? Check out our careers page for new openings. Explore Israel Votes Listen to For Heaven's Sake Listen to What’s Your Number? Watch Call me Back on YouTube Newsletters | Ark Media | Amit Segal | Nadav Eyal Instagram | Ark Media | Dan X | Dan Dan Senor & Saul Singer’s book, The Genius of Israel Get in touch Credits: Ilan Benatar, Adaam James Levin-Areddy, Brittany Cohen, Ava Weiner, Martin Huergo, Mariangeles Burgos, and Yuval Semo

Subscribe to Inside Call me Back to listen to our 4-part series with Ronen Bergman.  ____ Subscribe to Ark News Daily ____ If the shooting stops, is the war actually over? Dan is joined by Ark Media contributor and VP of the Hartman Institute Dr. Tal Becker to explore whether the next phase will be driven less by military action and more by political pressure, economic leverage, and shifting regional alliances. They unpack why there’s no clear definition of “victory,” what dynamics the war has set in motion, and whether Israel and its partners can turn short-term gains into long-term strategic advantage, all while the nuclear threat continues to loom. In this episode: - 03:42 – Why there’s no agreed definition of victory in this war - 04:48 – How to measure success through objectives, cost, and long-term dynamics - 06:45 – What comes after the ceasefire and the possible paths forward - 02:00 – How war can continue through pressure without direct combat - 09:06 – The case for a regional alliance against Iran - 11:09 – How Gulf states are reassessing their strategy - 26:00 – What happens if Iran races toward a nuclear weapon - 33:15 – The legal debate over justification, self-defense, and imminence More Ark Media: Want to join Ark Media? Check out our careers page for new openings. Explore Israel Votes Listen to For Heaven's Sake Listen to What’s Your Number? Watch Call me Back on YouTube Newsletters | Ark Media | Amit Segal | Nadav Eyal Instagram | Ark Media | Dan X | Dan Dan Senor & Saul Singer’s book, The Genius of Israel Get in touch Credits: Ilan Benatar, Adaam James Levin-Areddy, Brittany Cohen, Ava Weiner, Martin Huergo, Mariangeles Burgos, and Yuval Semo

Subscribe to Inside Call me Back to listen to our 4-part series with Ronen Bergman.  ____ Subscribe to Ark News Daily ____ According to a recent CBS / YouGov poll, 41% of Americans think that the war with Iran is going well, while 59% believe it is going badly.  Can a war be won when the country fighting it doesn’t agree on whether it’s going well? As the U.S. moves to blockade the Strait of Hormuz following failed negotiations, the debate is no longer just about battlefield gains, it’s about strategy, legitimacy, and what success really means. Dan Senor brings together former U.S. Ambassador to Israel Dan Shapiro and FDD CEO Mark Dubowitz for a good-faith debate on where the war stands and where it should go next. From military progress to political will, and from alliance dynamics to endgame scenarios, this conversation unpacks the fault lines shaping the American debate. In this episode: Where do things stand after the failed U.S–Iran talks and the Hormuz blockade? How Dan and Mark define whether the war is “going well” What the U.S. and Israel have actually achieved militarily Can the war be won if the Iranian regime remains intact What economic, political, and human costs should Americans expect from this war? How is the war affecting U.S. alliances and global standing? Is the best path forward to escalate, contain, or shift strategy? What happens if the war ends before achieving its core objectives? This episode was sponsored by United Hatzalah. Donate today at IsraelRescue.org/CallMeBack. Add this number to your phone right now if you live in Israel – 1221, and for those visiting it’s 972-2-5-383838. Listen to Mark’s podcast The Iran Breakdown. More Ark Media: Want to join Ark Media? Check out our careers page for new openings. Explore Israel Votes Listen to For Heaven's Sake Listen to What’s Your Number? Watch Call me Back on YouTube Newsletters | Ark Media | Amit Segal | Nadav Eyal Instagram | Ark Media | Dan X | Dan Dan Senor & Saul Singer’s book, The Genius of Israel Get in touch Credits: Ilan Benatar, Adaam James Levin-Areddy, Brittany Cohen, Ava Weiner, Martin Huergo, Mariangeles Burgos, and Yuval Semo

For the full episode, subscribe here to Inside Call me Back This is a sneak peek from this week’s members-only Inside Call Me Back (Part 3 of our 4-part series on Inside Mossad’s Shadow War with Iran with Ronen Bergman). In the aftermath of the JCPOA, Israel is forced to rethink its approach. With a military strike off the table, the strategy shifts. Mossad is tasked with finding a definitive “smoking gun” that would prove Iran’s military nuclear ambitions. That effort sets off a chain of events that leads to one of the most daring intelligence operations in modern history - the discovery and theft of Iran’s nuclear archive. For the full series, subscribe here to Inside Call me Back More Ark Media: Want to join Ark Media? Check out our careers page for new openings. Subscribe here to Ark News Daily Explore Israel Votes Listen to For Heaven's Sake Listen to What’s Your Number? Watch Call me Back on YouTube Newsletters | Ark Media | Amit Segal | Nadav Eyal Instagram | Ark Media | Dan X | Dan Dan Senor & Saul Singer’s book, The Genius of Israel Get in touch Credits: Ilan Benatar, Adaam James Levin-Areddy, Brittany Cohen, Ava Weiner, Martin Huergo, Mariangeles Burgos, and Yuval Semo

Subscribe to Ark News Daily ____ Subscribe to Inside Call me Back to listen to our 3-part series with Ronen Bergman.  ____ Did Iran blink, or did the U.S. pull back too soon? At the 11th hour, the U.S. and Iran agree to a two-week ceasefire, stepping back from a major escalation. Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz is set to resume under the ceasefire—but the core issues driving the war remain unresolved. Dan is joined by Nadav Eyal and Mark Dubowitz to break down what was actually agreed to, why Israel’s security establishment is uneasy, and whether this pause reflects strategic success—or a missed opportunity. Is this a real off-ramp…or just a temporary pause before the next phase? In this episode: 03:15 - A Ceasefire at the Brink: What Was Actually Agreed 05:33 - The Strait of Hormuz: Reopening Under What Terms? 06:57 - The Missing Pieces: Nuclear Program and Missiles Still Unresolved 08:18 - Israel’s Alarm: Why the Security Establishment Is Worried 14:30 - Did Iran Blink—or Gain Leverage? 15:42 - Trump’s Red Lines: What Must a Final Deal Include? 21:21 - Political Risks: Israel, the U.S., and the Blame Game 35:24 - Endgames: Diplomacy, Regime Pressure, or Renewed War This episode was sponsored by the Jewish Communal Fund. Learn more about JCF’s donor advised funds at jcfny.org. Listen to Mark’s podcast The Iran Breakdown. More Ark Media: Want to join Ark Media? Check out our careers page for new openings. Explore Israel Votes Listen to For Heaven's Sake Listen to What’s Your Number? Watch Call me Back on YouTube Newsletters | Ark Media | Amit Segal | Nadav Eyal Instagram | Ark Media | Dan X | Dan Dan Senor & Saul Singer’s book, The Genius of Israel Get in touch Credits: Ilan Benatar, Adaam James Levin-Areddy, Brittany Cohen, Ava Weiner, Martin Huergo, Mariangeles Burgos, and Yuval Semo

Subscribe to Ark News Daily ____ Subscribe to Inside Call me Back to listen to our 3-part series with Ronen Bergman.  ____ Will Trump’s ultimatum trigger a decisive strike on Iran—or force a last-minute deal? As the clock ticks toward a U.S. deadline, Dan is joined by Nadav Eyal and Amit Segal to break down what comes next: a widening war, a strategic endgame, or something in between. They unpack competing military options, the role of Iran’s energy sector, the risks of escalation across the region, and whether regime change is a realistic outcome—or a dangerous illusion. In this episode: 02:45 - Trump’s Ultimatum: What It Actually Means 05:45 - Extend, Escalate, or Strike: The U.S. Decision Tree 06:42 - Targeting Iran’s Energy Sector: Pressure vs. Shock 11:03 - Ground Forces on the Table? Risks and Realities 17:00 - No Deal, No Deterrence: Can This War End Cleanly? 18:00 - Iran’s Leverage: Hormuz and Regional Retaliation 21:30 - Endgames: Regime Change, Containment, or End This episode was sponsored by Hadassah. Please go to Hadassah.org to make a gift that helps Hadassah continue its longstanding, life-changing support for the people in Israel. More Ark Media: Want to join Ark Media? Check out our careers page for new openings. Explore Israel Votes Listen to For Heaven's Sake Listen to What’s Your Number? Watch Call me Back on YouTube Newsletters | Ark Media | Amit Segal | Nadav Eyal Instagram | Ark Media | Dan X | Dan Dan Senor & Saul Singer’s book, The Genius of Israel Get in touch Link to Javad Zarif article on Foreign Affairs: https://www.foreignaffairs.com/middle-east/how-iran-should-end-war-javad-zarif Credits: Ilan Benatar, Adaam James Levin-Areddy, Brittany Cohen, Ava Weiner, Martin Huergo, Mariangeles Burgos, and Yuval Semo

Subscribe to Inside Call me Back to listen to our 3-part series with Ronen Bergman ____ Subscribe to Ark News Daily ____ Is the war heading towards a ground assault or a push for a deal? To explore the possibilities, Dan is joined by Ark Media contributor Nadav Eyal and Fred Kagan, director of the Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute. In this episode: 02:24 - Two Tracks, One War: Escalation vs. Diplomacy 03:33 - Inside the Air Campaign: What’s Been Degraded—and What Hasn’t 08:33 - Diplomacy During War: Contradiction or Strategy? 10:57 - Iran’s Mindset: Why Tehran Thinks It’s Winning 15:54 - The Strait of Hormuz: Leverage, Illusion, or Real Control? 17:15 - What a U.S. Ground Operation Could Look Like 20:06 - Energy, Escalation, and Regional Spillover Risks 24:24 - Endgames: Deal, Deterrence, or Something Bigger? More Ark Media: Want to join Ark Media? Check out our careers page for new openings. Explore Israel Votes Listen to For Heaven's Sake Listen to What’s Your Number? Watch Call me Back on YouTube Newsletters | Ark Media | Amit Segal | Nadav Eyal Instagram | Ark Media | Dan X | Dan Dan Senor & Saul Singer’s book, The Genius of Israel Get in touch Credits: Ilan Benatar, Adaam James Levin-Areddy, Brittany Cohen, Ava Weiner, Martin Huergo, Mariangeles Burgos, and Patricio Spadavecchia, Yuval Semo

For the full episode, subscribe here to Inside Call me Back This is a sneak peek from today’s members-only Inside Call Me Back, Part 2 of our 3-part series on Inside Mossad’s Shadow War with Iran with Ronen Bergman. Dan and Ronen pick up where Part 1 left off, diving into the growing tension between Israel and the United States over whether—and when—to strike Iran’s nuclear program. From dramatic exchanges with Presidents Bush and Obama to deep divisions inside Israel’s own security establishment, this episode explores the early fault lines that would shape one of the most consequential strategic debates in recent history. For the full series, subscribe here to Inside Call me Back More Ark Media: Want to join Ark Media? Check out our careers page for new openings. Subscribe here to Ark News Daily Explore Israel Votes Listen to For Heaven's Sake Listen to What’s Your Number? Watch Call me Back on YouTube Newsletters | Ark Media | Amit Segal | Nadav Eyal Instagram | Ark Media | Dan X | Dan Dan Senor & Saul Singer’s book, The Genius of Israel Get in touch Credits: Ilan Benatar, Adaam James Levin-Areddy, Brittany Cohen, Ava Weiner, Martin Huergo, Mariangeles Burgos, and Patricio Spadavecchia, Yuval Semo

Subscribe to Ark News Daily ____ Subscribe to Inside Call me Back ____ What does freedom mean when pain is still present? As Passover approaches, Dan Senor speaks with Rachel Goldberg-Polin about how this year’s Seder lands differently. In a moment shaped by war, loss, and uneasy relief, they explore how the rituals of Passover hold both joy and sorrow—and why that tension is the point. From the Exodus story to the symbols on the Seder table, Rachel reflects on memory, meaning, gratitude, and the challenge of holding both relief and restraint. Less about retelling the past, this conversation asks what it means to be free right now. In this episode: 02:24 – Why This Passover Feels Different 08:09 – Setting the Table: From Slavery to Nationhood 12:54 – What Actually Happens at the Seder 16:15 – The Power of Questions (and Why Answers Matter Less) 27:39 – Bitterness, Memory, and Eating Our Pain 37:06 – Relief vs. Glee: A Moral Distinction 39:06 – Dayenu and the Discipline of Gratitude This episode was sponsored by the Jewish Communal Fund. Learn more about JCF’s donor advised funds at jcfny.org. This episode was sponsored by Hadassah. Please go to Hadassah.org to make a gift that helps Hadassah continue its longstanding, life-changing support for the people in Israel. Purchase tickets to see Dan in conversation with Rachel Goldberg-Polin at the Streicker Center on April 20. More Ark Media: Want to join Ark Media? Check out our careers page for new openings. Explore Israel Votes Listen to For Heaven's Sake Listen to What’s Your Number? Watch Call me Back on YouTube Newsletters | Ark Media | Amit Segal | Nadav Eyal Instagram | Ark Media | Dan X | Dan Dan Senor & Saul Singer’s book, The Genius of Israel Get in touch Credits: Ilan Benatar, Adaam James Levin-Areddy, Brittany Cohen, Ava Weiner, Martin Huergo, Mariangeles Burgos, and Patricio Spadavecchia, Yuval Semo

Subscribe to Ark News Daily ____ Subscribe to Inside Call me Back ____ Are the stakes of the Iran war higher than Israelis understand? Micah Goodman joins Dan to try and understand the different narratives that drive this war: Iran’s war against the West, the Iranian people’s war of liberation, the United States’ paradoxical relationship with Israel, and China’s hegemonic fantasies. While Israelis are primarily concerned with guaranteeing their own safety, Micah argues that the war puts all these narratives to the test, and that the stakes of winning (or losing) the war may define the future of the balance of power around the world. In this episode: - The “Great Convergence”: Why This War Is Different - The U.S.-Israel Paradox - America First and MAGA (Can Israel’s Military Beat Conspiracy Theories?) - Trump’s War Doctrine: Strength Without Quagmire - The Global Stakes: China, Iran, and Deterrence - Zionism and the Bigger Meaning of This War This episode was sponsored by Hadassah. Please go to Hadassah.org to make a gift that helps Hadassah continue its longstanding, life-changing support for the people in Israel. Find Theodore Herzl's The Jewish State here. More Ark Media: Want to join Ark Media? Check out our careers page for new openings. Explore Israel Votes Listen to For Heaven's Sake Listen to What’s Your Number? Watch Call me Back on YouTube Newsletters | Ark Media | Amit Segal | Nadav Eyal Instagram | Ark Media | Dan X | Dan Dan Senor & Saul Singer’s book, The Genius of Israel Get in touch Credits: Ilan Benatar, Adaam James Levin-Areddy, Brittany Cohen, Ava Weiner, Martin Huergo, Mariangeles Burgos, and Patricio Spadavecchia, Yuval Semo

For the full episode, subscribe here to Inside Call me Back ------- This is a sneak peek from this week’s members-only Inside Call me Back, which started a special three-part series on Israel’s shadow war with Iran. The current campaign against Iran is just one chapter in a much longer war that has been taking place in the shadows for over three decades. This is the story of that war. In this first installment, Ronen Bergman tells Dan about the first stage of the war: from the intelligence that led to the discovery of the nuclear program to Mossad’s assassinations of Iran's nuclear scientists, to groundbreaking cyber warfare. But did it work? For the full series, subscribe here to Inside Call me Back More Ark Media: Want to join Ark Media? Check out our careers page for new openings. Subscribe here to Ark News Daily Explore Israel Votes Listen to For Heaven's Sake Listen to What’s Your Number? Watch Call me Back on YouTube Newsletters | Ark Media | Amit Segal | Nadav Eyal Instagram | Ark Media | Dan X | Dan Dan Senor & Saul Singer’s book, The Genius of Israel Get in touch Credits: Ilan Benatar, Adaam James Levin-Areddy, Brittany Cohen, Ava Weiner, Martin Huergo, Mariangeles Burgos, and Patricio Spadavecchia, Yuval Semo

This is a news update from Ark News Daily. Subscribe here to Ark News Daily In this episode: -Iran hits Qatari gas hub -Israel fights back on the energy war -Trump and Netanyahu see light in the end of the tunnel -Do Jews support the war? Mentioned in the episode: -Nadav Eyal on Call me Back about the Strait of Hormuz blockade -For Heaven's Sake on the Jewish world's response to the war -NPR poll on Jewish support for the war -Israel Democracy Institute poll on Israeli support for the war -JPPI poll on Jewish support for the war More Ark Media: Want to join Ark Media? Check out our careers page for new openings. Subscribe to Inside Call me Back Explore Israel Votes Listen to For Heaven's Sake Listen to What’s Your Number? Watch Call me Back on YouTube Newsletters | Ark Media | Amit Segal | Nadav Eyal Instagram | Ark Media | Dan X | Dan Dan Senor & Saul Singer’s book, The Genius of Israel Get in touch Credits:  Deborah Pardes, Andrew Tobin, Adaam James Levin-Areddy, Brittany Cohen, Ava Weiner, Martin Huergo, Mariangeles Burgos, and Patricio Spadavecchia, Yuval Semo