The Times of Israel Daily Briefing

Welcome to The Times of Israel's Lazar Focus. Each Friday, join host diplomatic correspondent Lazar Berman for a deep dive into what's behind the news that spins the globe.
The fledgling ceasefire between the US and Israel on the one hand, and Iran on the other, is holding. Even before it went into effect, a pointed debate began over who won, and whether US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu achieved what they set out to accomplish 41 days ago.
John Spencer, chair of war studies at the Madison Policy Forum, says that it is way too early to determine the outcome of the war, as it is impossible to know what the outcome will be. Negotiations on a long-term settlement have not even begun yet.
Moreover, Spencer argues, wars should be judged based on the stated goals of the campaign. Both Trump and Netanyahu made clear on multiple occasions that, though they would love to see the regime in Tehran fall, regime change is not a goal of the campaign.
And, he says, there is no guarantee that the regime survives. It often takes time for the public to rise up and topple oppressive rulers.
Spencer also notes that Israel is clearly stronger than it was on October 6, 2023, and Iran and its axis are much weaker.
As for the Strait of Hormuz, which emerged as a central factor in the war, Spencer does not doubt that the US spent plenty of time and resources planning for the possibility that Iran would close the waterway. He recalls war-gaming such a scenario 15 years ago as a US officer, and stresses that there is a permanent task force in the Pentagon to think about keeping the Strait open.
There are plenty of possible reasons for the US to decide not to force Hormuz open at this point, including global markets, diplomatic openings, and the potential costs of an operation.
Spencer says that in his eyes, Iran's strategy failed, in that it validated all the fears about it in the region, and is likely to push Arab states further into the arms of the US and its regional alliance.
Lazar Focus can be found on all podcast platforms. This episode was produced by Gabriella Jacobs and video edited by Ari Schlacht.
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Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, your 20-minute audio update on what's happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world.
Editor David Horovitz joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan for today's episode.
On Tuesday night, US President Donald Trump announced a two-week ceasefire between the US, Israel and Iran. By Wednesday, he renewed his threat to use unprecedented force against Iran if it doesn’t comply with the terms of the ceasefire, ahead of scheduled peace talks between Washington and Tehran.
But just what the terms of the ceasefire are is in question as Israel continues its campaign in Lebanon against Hezbollah, while Iran and mediator Pakistan declare the US and Israel in breach.
Ahead of scheduled negotiations in Islamabad, Horovitz unravels some of the remaining knotty issues facing the three sides, even as each declares victory.
Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates.
For further reading:
Trump threatens to renew war if Iran doesn’t comply with ‘real agreement’
US and Israel set out ambitious, vital war goals; as of the ceasefire, none have been achieved
Netanyahu left with vague promises, no clear victories after another war ends without a decisive win
Netanyahu: Iran’s enriched uranium will be removed, by agreement or in resumed fighting
Vance to lead US negotiators at first round of Islamabad talks with Iran on Saturday
IDF launches largest airstrikes yet on Hezbollah; Trump: Iran truce doesn’t cover Lebanon
Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by Yitzchak Ledee.
IMAGE: Government supporters gather to mark the 40th day since the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Tehran, Iran, April 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)
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Welcome to The Reel Schmooze with ToI film reviewer Jordan Hoffman and host Amanda Borschel-Dan, where we bring you all the entertainment news and film reviews a Jew can use.
We start the program with two "Jangles" -- Jewish angles -- on this week's entertainment news. In a follow-up to our previous program, we hear how the comic Modi dropped out of a Passover event after finding out that New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani was participating. A principled stance?
And then, Hoffman pays tribute to Tzruya ‘Suki’ Lahav, who played violin with Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band half a century ago, and died last weekend.
However, in honor of the end of the Passover holiday, we turn our gaze to "The Ten Commandments," which this year turns 70.
The 1956 Cecil B. DeMille "sandal epic" sees Charlton Heston as Moses going head-to-head with Yul Brynner as Rameses. The supporting cast also glitters with Anne Baxter as Nefretiri, Edward G. Robinson as Dathan, Yvonne De Carlo as Sephora and Debra Paget as Lilia.
Although screened annually in the US, Hoffman hadn't watched it for several decades, and this is Borschel-Dan's first time. But it's a movie that, as Hoffman puts it, "people know even if they haven't seen it."
The duo goes into the weeds with the biblical and Jewish influences on the work, including a surprise member of the tribe for Hoffman. And, while dated in its treatment of women on screen, the film also offers an insightful feminist moment.
Stick around to see if "The Ten Commandments" got an "oy," "meh" or "not bad" in this week's The Reel Schmooze.
The Reel Schmooze is produced by Ari Schlacht and can be found wherever you get your podcasts.
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Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, your 20-minute audio update on what's happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world.
US bureau chief Jacob Magid joins host Jessica Steinberg for today's episode.
US President Donald Trump celebrated the rescue operation for a downed US airman in Iranian territory, reports Magid, offering new details of the daring operation that included significant sabotage against Iranian forces, and a contingency plan in which the rescue teams had to assemble helicopters on the spot.
It's crunch time for talks with Iran, Magid discusses, as Trump offered a deadline with his threat to blow up every bridge and power plant on Tuesday night if Iran doesn't accept the US proposal for a deal and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
A Friday deadline also looms for Hamas with a phased disarmament plan over eight months, says Magid, as Nikolai Mladenov, the High Representative for the Board of Peace, issued his own ultimatum to the terrorist group.
Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates.
For further reading:
Trump recounts rescue of 2 downed airmen in Iran: ‘We could have ended up with 100 dead, as opposed to one or two’
Downed US airman said to have directed strikes on Iranian positions from hiding place
Trump: US has plan to destroy every bridge and power plant in Iran Tuesday night if no deal
Hamas given until week’s end to accept disarmament proposal — sources
Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by Ari Schlacht.
IMAGE: A tall plume of smoke billows from a fire next to Azadi Tower (C) following strikes near Mehrabad International Airport in Tehran on March 7, 2026 (Atta Kenare/AFP)
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Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, your 20-minute audio update on what's happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world.
Political correspondent Sam Sokol joins host Jessica Steinberg for today's episode.
Following an interim High Court order allowing a larger gathering despite wartime restrictions for Saturday night's antiwar protest in Tel Aviv, Sokol reports on the backlash from the Knesset coalition and religious parties demanding similar treatment for the traditional Passover mass prayers at the Western Wall.
Sokol also discusses the passage of the 2026 budget, the government's largest budget to date, due to increased defense spending and billions of shekels in ultra-Orthodox educational expenditures following an unexpected political maneuver during a long night of voting.
Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates.
For further reading:
Cops violently disperse protesters at Tel Aviv anti-war rally, after court raised attendance cap
Flouting wartime restrictions, over 1,000 men gather for address by top Haredi rabbi
High Court raises wartime limit on Western Wall, Temple Mount access from 50 to 100
Levin says government should ignore High Court ruling allowing wartime protests
AG halts transfer of budget funds for Haredi institutions after contentious vote
Opposition MKs voted to allocate NIS 800 million for Haredi schools. How did that happen?
Knesset approves 2026 budget, Israel’s largest ever, sending billions to Haredi institutions
Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by Ari Schlacht.
IMAGE: Israelis attending anti-war protest take shelter in Tel Aviv's Habima parking lot as alert for Iranian missile sounds on April 4, 2026 (Miriam Alster/Flash90)
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