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Media’s dangerous lie: Equating terrorists with hostages

Watch: “Axis of Truth” with political commentator Emily Schrader

Host Emily Schrader takes a hard look at the moral confusion plaguing major international outlets reporting on the Israel-Hamas hostage deal. This isn’t just bad journalism; it’s dangerous disinformation, she says. Schrader breaks down how convicted murderers responsible for deadly suicide bombings, like Imad Kawasme and Iyad Abu Arub, are now being falsely equated with kidnapped Israeli civilians.

Joining the show is Jonathan Schanzer, senior vice president for research at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD) and a former terrorism finance analyst at the U.S. Treasury Department. He offers critical insight into the global security risks posed by the Islamic Republic of Iran, the mechanics of U.S. sanctions and how Hamas continues to operate with impunity even during ceasefires.

Together, Schrader and Schanzer discuss whether the cycle of hostage deals and mass terrorist releases is sustainable, and what deterrence might actually look like in a region held hostage by proxy terror regimes.

This episode also covers:

  • The moral asymmetry between Israeli hostages and Palestinian terrorists
  • Ongoing ceasefire violations and executions inside Gaza by Hamas
  • The viral disinformation campaign hijacking Holocaust language and imagery to support Hamas
  • Shocking footage of Hamas executing suspected collaborators in Gaza under the cover of a ceasefire
  • The visa scandal surrounding Hamas-aligned “photojournalist” Motaz Azaiza, now touring the United States.
Emily Schrader is the host of the “Axis of Truth” podcast on JNS and the co-host of “The Quad,” also a JNS podcast. She is also an award-winning content creator and public speaker on the Middle East, particularly Iran.
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