Call Me Back - with Dan Senor

Is Antizionism a Soviet invention for persecuting Jews?
Dan is joined by Shaul Kelner, professor of Jewish studies and sociology at Vanderbilt University, to examine the rarely-told history of Antizionism. Kelner explains how a framework designed to deny Jewish life under Soviet rule has resurfaced in the West long before October 7 and why many American Jews were unprepared for its scale and intensity.
In this episode...
08:00: The Soviet roots of Antizionism
15:00: How Antizionism entered the West
21:00 Marxism and ideological monoculture in American universities
28:00 Why American Jews are seduced by Antizionism
32:00: Stop debating semantics
This episode was sponsored by SAPIR: Sign up for the SAPIR journal at sapirjournal.org/CallMeBack
From the episode:
- Shaul Kelner’s book, A Cold War Exodus: How Americans Activists Mobilized to Free Soviet Jews
- Shaul Kelner's article on American Antizionism
- Attend The State of World Jewry Address at the 92nd Street Y
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Credits: Ilan Benatar, Adaam James Levin-Areddy, Brittany Cohen, Martin Huergo, Mariangeles Burgos, and Patricio Spadavecchia, Yuval Semo

Is a U.S. strike on Iran back on the table? How could it reshape the Middle East? And what role could the Middle East play in the new world order taking shape these days? 
Dan Senor speaks with Mark Dubowitz and Yonatan Adiri about the rising likelihood of U.S. military action against the Islamic Republic, which targets are being considered, and how Iran could retaliate. They also unpack Israel’s internal debates on how to respond, the Saudi UAE rift and what it means for normalization, Turkey’s expanding footprint, and why India is becoming a more important regional player.
In this episode...
- Is a U.S. strike on Iran coming and what would actually be hit
- How Iran might retaliate and the debates inside Israel over next steps
- Whether military action is meant to pressure the regime or help bring it down
- Why Trump paused an attack and the regional forces shaping that call
- Saudi Arabia’s recalculation, its rift with the UAE, and the impact on normalization
- Turkey’s rise and why India is becoming a quiet power broker in the region
This episode was sponsored by SAPIR: Sign up for the SAPIR journal at sapirjournal.org/CallMeBack
From the episode:
- Listen to Yonatan’s podcast What’s Your Number?
- Listen to Mark’s podcast The Iran Breakdown
More Ark Media:
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Dan Senor & Saul Singer’s book, The Genius of Israel
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Credits: Ilan Benatar, Adaam James Levin-Areddy, Brittany Cohen, Martin Huergo, Mariangeles Burgos, and Patricio Spadavecchia, Yuval Semo

This is a sneak peek from a recent conversation on Inside Call Me Back, the members-only edition of the podcast. Dan and Dr. Tal Becker challenge the claim that Saudi normalization is “dead” and explain why a one-state framework fails to address the core of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict.
To hear the full conversation, become a member by following the link in the description or visiting arkmedia.org.
In the full episode: 
Dan takes listener questions with Dr. Tal Becker on the new “Board of Peace,” why it’s being framed as an alternative to the UN, and what it could mean for Gaza and beyond. Tal also weighs Israel’s concerns about Turkey and Qatar sitting on the Gaza Executive Committee. The conversation ends with a look at trends in American Jewry and a practical explanation for why Israeli leaders often adjust once they’re governing from the Prime Minister’s Office.
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Dan Senor & Saul Singer’s book, The Genius of Israel
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Credits: Ilan Benatar, Adaam James Levin-Areddy, Brittany Cohen, Martin Huergo, Mariangeles Burgos, and Patricio Spadavecchia, Yuval Semo

What will Phase II of Trump's plan for Gaza look like on the ground? Who’s  in charge of Gaza now, and who’s paying the bills? Dan is joined by Ark Media contributors Nadav Eyal and Amit Segal to cut through the fog around “phase two” of the Gaza plan. They break down the new governing structure — Trump’s “Board of Peace,” the Gaza Executive Committee, a Palestinian technocrat government, and an International Stability Force — and explain what will actually matter on the ground: money, security control, and whether Hamas truly disarms. They also assess Israel–U.S. friction, the odds of renewed fighting, what daily life in Gaza looks like right now, and how all of this collides with Israeli election politics.
In this episode...
- Understanding the Governance of Gaza
- Who Holds Power in Gaza? Money, Security, and Accountability
- Hamas After the War
- Phase Two, the Yellow Line, and Israeli Withdrawal
- The International Stability Force Explained
- Life in Gaza Right Now
- Gaza Meets Israeli Politics
- The Bigger Regional Picture
From the episode:
This episode was sponsored by The Shalom Hartman Institute: Learn more about the Community Leadership Program at https://go.hartman.org.il/CLP-CMB
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Dan Senor & Saul Singer’s book, The Genius of Israel
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Credits: Ilan Benatar, Adaam James Levin-Areddy, Brittany Cohen, Martin Huergo, Mariangeles Burgos, and Patricio Spadavecchia, Yuval Semo

In part two of Dan’s conversation with political scientist Yascha Mounk, the two discuss identity politics, its growing influence on the American left, and the danger this trend poses to pluralistic societies.
They examine why identity politics is so seductive, how it reshapes government, schools, and civic  institutions, and why Mounk believes it ultimately undermines both individuality and democratic cohesion. The conversation also turns inward, exploring Jewish identity: where it strengthens pluralism, where it becomes politicized, and why Jews, in particular, should be cautious about abandoning universal principles for group-based power.
In this episode...
- Why liberalism today feels unrecognizable
- What identity politics is and why it’s so appealing
- How universalism gave way to group-based politics
- When inclusion turns into segregation
- Jewish identity and the limits of identity-based politics
- Why free speech remains essential for a pluralistic democracy
From the episode:
- Listen to Yascha’s podcast The Good Fight
- Subscribe to Persuasion
- Purchase Yascha’s book, The Identity Trap
More Ark Media:
Want to join Ark Media? Check out our careers page for new openings.
Subscribe to Inside Call me Back
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, Martin Huergo, Mariangeles Burgos, and Patricio Spadavecchia, Yuval Semo