Netanyahu has burned bridges. How will that play out at the polls?

Netanyahu has burned bridges. How will that play out at the polls?

Author: The Times of Israel September 6, 2026 Duration: 25:15

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.

News editor Ben Sales joins host Jessica Steinberg for today's episode.

After US Ambassador Mike Huckabee met with Palestinians on Saturday and called for severe consequences for violent settlers, Sales notes the American diplomat is trying to say two things, continuing his longtime support of the settlement enterprise in the West Bank alongside the need to deal with Jewish terrorists.

Sales then turns to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, questioning whether the upcoming election will be the first time the longtime leader will possibly lose, given that he has enemies among some of the new centrist parties who say they don't want to sit with him in any government.

Finally, Sales looks at the commonalities between Michigan's Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed and his friendship with anti-Israel podcaster Hasan Piker, and US Vice President JD Vance and his friendship with right-wing podcaster Tucker Carlson, discussing the antisemitic similarities on opposite sides of the political spectrum.

Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates.

For further reading:

Huckabee, in West Bank, urges severe consequences for settler violence: ‘Terror is terror’

One-hit wonders keep saving Netanyahu. This time, he might be played out

El-Sayed and Vance call each other ‘evil,’ while both handling antisemitism the same way

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: News editor Ben Sales appears on the Daily Briefing with podcast host Jessica Steinberg (Flash 90)

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.


Each morning, The Times of Israel Daily Briefing cuts through the noise to deliver essential context on the stories shaping Israel and the wider region. Produced by the seasoned journalists of The Times of Israel, this podcast provides more than just headlines; it offers grounded analysis and on-the-ground perspective that listeners won't find in a standard news bulletin. You'll hear directly from reporters and editors who live the story, discussing the political, security, and social developments that matter most. The conversation naturally extends to the broader Middle East and issues affecting Jewish communities worldwide, making sense of complex events with clarity and depth. Tune in for a concise, authoritative briefing that respects your time and intelligence, turning the day's most pressing news into understandable narrative. This is where informed listening begins, a trusted audio resource for anyone seeking a reliable, nuanced understanding of a dynamic and often misunderstood part of the world.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 50

The Times of Israel Daily Briefing
Podcast Episodes
In bold Israeli op, Hamas commander nabbed in Gaza City [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:32
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. Military correspondent Emanuel Fabian joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan for t…
What makes a Jewish legislator join forces with an Arab party? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:18
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.…
Splinter parties jockey for position as election deadline looms [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:34
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…
Golan Druze rethink their ties to Syria [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:24
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. Health reporter Diana Bletter joins host Gabriella Jacobs for today's epis…
Israel risks opening a new front with strike deep in Syria [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:48
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. ToI founding editor David Horovitz joins host Jessica Steinberg for today'…
Former Hamas hostage fulfills a dream at Nir Oz [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:51
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. Culture editor Jessica Steinberg joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan for today'…
US holds direct talks with Hamas. Why it's the new normal [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:03
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 Amanda Borschel-Dan for today's epi…
NY Jews train for mass casualty event amid heightened threats [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:50
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 reporter Luke Tress joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan for today's episode.…