Call Me Back - with Dan Senor

Why did an Israeli-U.S. plan that counted on Kurdish fighters to help topple the Iranian regime fall apart?  

Dan is joined by investigative journalist, documentary filmmaker Itai Anghel who risked his life to follow Kurdish fighters in Syria, Iraq and Iran to document their guerrilla warfare tactics, explore how Kurdish leaders viewed Israel, why that trust fractured, and how those experiences shaped their views of the Israeli-U.S. secret plan for Kurds to fight inside Iran. The conversation also examines why Kurdish women fighters are key, and the military, political, and regional obstacles that doomed the plot from the start.  On August 10th, Part 2 will examine the plan from Israel’s intelligence and military perspectives.

Watch Itai Anghel’s documentary The Women Most Wanted in Iran

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This episode is sponsored by The Israel Democracy Institute: For resources on Israel's upcoming election and to learn more about IDI, visit elections.idi.org.il/2026. 

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In this episode:

1. Who are the Kurds, and why they matter

2. The surprising Kurdish bond with Israel

3. A stateless nation with big aspirations

4. Women fighters now and in the war against ISIS

5. Why Kurdish trust in Israel and the U.S. has eroded

6. Inside the Iranian Kurdish underground

7. The Kurds’ view of the U.S.-Israeli plan for Kurdish boots on the ground in Iran

8. Why, when and how the plan for Kurdish fighters fell apart

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Credits: Ilan Benatar, Beth Pearlman, Brittany Cohen, Ava Weiner, Martin Huergo, Mariangeles Burgos, and Yuval Semo

Why could the upcoming Michigan Democratic Senate primary signal a seismic shift about the Democratic party and U.S. policy on Israel?

As Michigan Democrats prepare to choose a nominee for the U.S. Senate, Dan Senor sits down with political journalist Mark Halperin to discuss why this race has become a flashpoint in the debate over Israel, progressive politics, and the future of the Democratic Party. They examine why progressives are demonizing Israel and AIPAC, the role of The New York Times and other media in shifting the debate, and why Abdul El‑Sayed’s campaign may have implications that extend to the 2028 presidential election.

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This episode is sponsored by Citizen Cafe: Schedule your free intro session with Citizen Cafe today.

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In this episode: 

1. Why the Michigan Senate primary matters more than ever

2. How Israel became the defining issue in this race

3. Surprising changes inside the Democratic coalition

4. How The New York Times and social media impacts the narrative

5. Who is Abdul El‑Sayed and what’s behind his success

6. Why El-Sayed could be more influential than Mayor Mamdani

7. Implications of an El-Sayed victory for 2028 Democratic politics

Links mentioned in this episode:

-Mark Halperin’s recent article in the Free Press How Israel Became the Biggest Litmus Test in American Politics

-Halperin’s live video platform 2Way and  8 for 28 presidential picks

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Credits: Ilan Benatar, Beth Pearlman, Brittany Cohen, Ava Weiner, Martin Huergo, Mariangeles Burgos, and Yuval Semo

This is a sneak peek from the members-only edition of Inside Call Me Back. Dan is joined by Ark Media contributor Amit Segal to answer listener questions about one of the biggest puzzles in Israeli politics: why the Likud is losing support even as the country shifts to the right. They also discuss who might be Prime Minister of a potential unity government. 

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For the full episode, subscribe here to - Inside Call me Back

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You can access the full episode here, where Dan answers listener questions about:

- Was Netanyahu's recent Washington visit a snub or a success?

- Why do Mizrahi voters still back Likud candidates?

- The Haredi draft exemption and the coalition dilemma

- How could Israel's imperfect democratic system be improved?

- Could a new center-right party realistically succeed?

- What will ultimately decide Israel's election?

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Credits: Ilan Benatar, Ryan Lohr, Beth Pearlman, Brittany Cohen, Ava Weiner, Martin Huergo, Mariangeles Burgos, and Yuval Semo

What is next for America’s foreign policy, and what does it mean for Israel?

President Trump has reshaped America's relationships with allies and adversaries alike, favoring leverage, pressure, and dealmaking over traditional alliances. But does coercion create lasting influence, or does it push allies to look elsewhere? Dan is joined by Ian Bremmer, president and founder of Eurasia Group and GZERO Media, to debate whether Trump's foreign policy has reached its ceiling, what comes next for America's global alliances, and why Israel may be the ultimate test case.

Learn more about Eurasia Group and GZERO Media.

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In this episode:

- Has Trump's foreign policy peaked?

- Where Trump's foreign policy succeeded and failed

- Can America still count on its allies?

- Has Trump lost leverage over Russia?

- Will the U.S. finish the job on Iran?

- Is Israel the exception to America's new foreign policy?

- Which parts of Trump's foreign policy will last?

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Dan Senor & Saul Singer’s book, The Genius of Israel

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Credits: Ilan Benatar, Ryan Lohr, Beth Pearlman, Brittany Cohen, Ava Weiner, Martin Huergo, Mariangeles Burgos, and Yuval Semo

Is a 3rd round of war with Iran now inevitable?

After two wars, a failed agreement, and months of uneasy calm, the U.S. and Iran may once again be on the brink of direct conflict. Amit Segal and Nadav Eyal join Dan to assess why the US-Iran MOU has collapsed, would Israel’s military take part in it, what a 3rd round of fighting could look like, and how elections in both Israel and the United States could shape the decisions ahead.

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This episode was sponsored by RootOne. Help the Jewish teen in your life experience Israel for themselves. Visit RootOne.org to learn more.

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Help shape what Ark Media builds next. Sign up to participate in listener interviews, focus groups, and product testing. Participation is voluntary, and space is limited.

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In this episode:

- Why the US-Iran agreement collapsed

- What a third war with Iran could look like

- Would Netanyahu strike Iran again?

- How Iran is reading Trump

- Will elections change Trump's Iran strategy?

- Could the West Bank erupt next?

- Could another war reshape Israel's election?

- Why Israelis are watching New York politics

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Newsletters | Ark Media | Amit Segal | Nadav Eyal

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Dan Senor & Saul Singer’s book, The Genius of Israel

Get in touch

Credits: Ilan Benatar, Ryan Lohr, Beth Pearlman, Brittany Cohen, Ava Weiner, Martin Huergo, Mariangeles Burgos, and Yuval Semo