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‘Top Story,’ Ep. 15: Michael Oren: Afghanistan ‘Will Embolden Islamic Extremists’

Former Israeli Ambassador to the United States Michael Oren joins JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan S. Tobin in discussing America’s disaster in Afghanistan and the U.S.-Israel relationship.

The two discuss the impact of America’s withdrawal from the region on Israel and its Arab allies, U.S. policy towards Iran, the impact of critical race theory and intersectional ideology on American support for Israel. Oren also talks about how Israel’s new coalition government is working, how the Knesset operates, his thoughts on former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and what it’s like to be a writer of novels and history books.

“Top Story” also airs on JBS-TV on Wednesdays at 7 p.m.; and on Thursdays at 11 a.m. and at 5:30 p.m.

Listen/Subscribe to new weekly episodes on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, iHeart radio, Amazon or wherever you listen to your podcasts.

Watch new episodes every week by subscribing to the JNS YouTube channel.

Jonathan S. Tobin is editor-in-chief of the Jewish News Syndicate, a senior contributor for The Federalist, a columnist for Newsweek and a contributor to many other publications. He covers the American political scene, foreign policy, the U.S.-Israel relationship, Middle East diplomacy, the Jewish world and the arts. He hosts the JNS “Think Twice” podcast, both the weekly video program and the “Jonathan Tobin Daily” program, which are available on all major audio platforms and YouTube. Previously, he was executive editor, then senior online editor and chief political blogger, for Commentary magazine. Before that, he was editor-in-chief of The Jewish Exponent in Philadelphia and editor of the Connecticut Jewish Ledger. He has won more than 60 awards for commentary, art criticism and other writing. He appears regularly on television, commenting on politics and foreign policy. Born in New York City, he studied history at Columbia University.
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