Unholy: Two Jews on the News
Unholy Media
Yonit Levi of Israel's Channel 12 News and Jonathan Freedland of The Guardian are two of the most prominent journalists in the world today. They are also Jews. Each week, join what MSNBC's Rachel Maddow calls "two great, smart smart smart hosts" as they dissect and debate current events shaping Israel, Jewish life - and the wider world.
Their blend of nuanced discussion and sparkling conversation, featuring a dazzling range of guests, is why New Yorker editor David Remnick calls himself a “proud, avid listener," why Ira Glass says he "completely enjoys this show" and why Malcolm Gladwell calls it an "incredibly fun podcast".
For a weekly fix of globally informed talk – including nominations for the greatest act of chutzpah and outstanding mensch of the previous seven days – there’s only one destination. Make every Friday morning Unholy.
Contact us via: unholy@unholy-media.com
Their blend of nuanced discussion and sparkling conversation, featuring a dazzling range of guests, is why New Yorker editor David Remnick calls himself a “proud, avid listener," why Ira Glass says he "completely enjoys this show" and why Malcolm Gladwell calls it an "incredibly fun podcast".
For a weekly fix of globally informed talk – including nominations for the greatest act of chutzpah and outstanding mensch of the previous seven days – there’s only one destination. Make every Friday morning Unholy.
Contact us via: unholy@unholy-media.com
Episodes
Mentioned books
4 snips
Mar 26, 2026 • 1h 20min
Talking peace, making war - with Jake Sullivan
Jake Sullivan, former U.S. National Security Advisor and Harvard professor, brings diplomatic and national security chops. He critiques the decision to go to war, weighs paths between renewed nuclear diplomacy and escalation, and flags risks for Taiwan and regional deterrence. Short, sharp conversations cut between life under sirens, media toll, and shifting global calculations.
18 snips
Mar 23, 2026 • 21min
War with Iran Update: Trump Hits the Pause Button
Breaking news on a possible five-day pause in U.S.-Iran strikes and secret mediation via Pakistan and Turkey. Discussion of U.S. figures involved in back-channel talks and who might speak for Iran. Contrast between American and Israeli aims for the conflict. Coverage of a sharp rise in antisemitic attacks, including an arson targeting Hatzalah ambulances in London.
15 snips
Mar 19, 2026 • 1h 17min
Day 20 of the Iran war - with Amos Harel. Plus: Shelter Q&A
Amos Harel, Haaretz military affairs correspondent known for deep defense analysis, joins to assess operations and strategy in the US-Israeli war with Iran. He discusses recent assassinations, energy strikes, shifts from planned operations to attrition, and limits of military pressure on Iran and Hezbollah. The episode also answers listeners' shelter and wartime questions.
61 snips
Mar 12, 2026 • 1h 36min
Iran with General David Petraeus, Oscars with Naomi Alderman - plus: can Jewish life thrive under fire?
Naomi Alderman, novelist and broadcaster known for Disobedience, offers sharp film criticism and cultural reading of Marty Supreme. General David Petraeus, former U.S. Army general and ex-CIA director, provides military-strategy analysis on the Iran conflict. They discuss widening war dynamics, Hezbollah’s resurgence, Israel–US coordination, and how culture and Jewish life respond under fire.
25 snips
Mar 10, 2026 • 34min
War with Iran Week II: can the regime actually fall? With Ali Ansari
Ali Ansari, historian and director of the Institute for Iranian Studies, offers a brisk primer on modern Iran. He questions assumptions about the regime's durability and explains why hereditary succession may signal weakness. The conversation touches on leadership change, signs of internal incoherence, and how localized unrest could spread into broader challenges.
7 snips
Mar 5, 2026 • 45min
War with Iran Day 6: The Gulf Under Fire, Tough Questions for Trump - With Gideon Rachman
Gideon Rachman, chief foreign affairs commentator at the Financial Times, offers brisk international analysis. He discusses shifting US justifications for the war, Iran’s regional missile campaign and its impact across the Gulf. He weighs the limits of air power and regime change, Israel’s military-first calculus, and which regional powers might fill any power vacuum.
12 snips
Mar 3, 2026 • 24min
War with Iran - Day 4 - Living Under Fire
A candid reconnection about life inside Israel amid a sudden Iran confrontation. Short siren cycles, empty streets, and routine retreats to shelters set the scene. They unpack Iran’s tactic of frequent, smaller barrages and the strain on vulnerable groups. The conversation questions leadership rhetoric, deterrence strategy, and who ultimately calls time on the fighting.
27 snips
Mar 1, 2026 • 16min
Emergency update: Khamenei Is Dead. What Now for Iran? - with Dr. Suzanne Maloney
Dr. Suzanne Maloney, Brookings foreign policy director and Iran specialist, discusses Khamenei’s institutional power and the regime’s ideological roots. She outlines succession mechanics, the fractured state of Iranian society, and regional consequences. The conversation maps pathways for transition and the uncertain aftermath for Iran and its neighbors.
15 snips
Feb 28, 2026 • 19min
Emergency update: US and Israel strike Iran; Khamenei reported dead - with Amos Harel
Amos Harel, military analyst and longtime Haaretz commentator, breaks down coordinated US and Israeli strikes on Iran. He explains operational details and targeting choices. He discusses likely Iranian responses and whether this could shift regional power or the regime's future. Short, urgent, and focused on the military and strategic angles.
18 snips
Feb 26, 2026 • 45min
Modi's Big Visit, Iran Tensions and a Republican Clash over Israel - with Matti Friedman and Alon Ushpiz
Alon Ushpiz, former Israeli ambassador to India, shares behind-the-scenes on India–Israel ties. Matti Friedman, journalist and author, discusses Iran anxieties and Israeli social tensions. They explore Modi’s warm visit and its timing, the pragmatic roots of bilateral cooperation, rising Iran fears and Israel’s uneasy normal, plus political rows that complicated the reception.
