Ask Haviv Anything
Haviv Rettig Gur
"Ask Haviv Anything" is a podcast about history, a podcast you, dear listener, will help to shape and direct, focusing not just on what I want to talk about but on what you want to learn and discuss. Nothing is off limits. We're going to talk about big and painful things, and also beautiful and fascinating things, wars and identities and painful history. And also more light-hearted things. Humor matters, especially when facing tough subjects.
Join me on this journey.
A podcast by Haviv Rettig Gur
Join me on this journey.
A podcast by Haviv Rettig Gur
Episodes
Mentioned books
51 snips
May 12, 2026 • 15min
115: Is Nicholas Kristof right?
A critique of a high-profile op-ed alleging systemic sexual violence in Palestinian prisons. Examination of questionable sourcing, propaganda techniques, and timing tied to political aims. Discussion of how myths spread and comparisons to past media errors. Arguments for acknowledging limited real abuses while calling for accountability and internal reforms.
32 snips
May 11, 2026 • 20min
114: Why don’t we talk about Egypt?
A concise dive into Egypt’s long control of Gaza and why Cairo avoided annexation or citizenship. Discussion of Nasser’s pan-Arab strategy and the PLO’s creation as a tool of Egyptian influence. Exploration of Egypt’s fear of Gaza-driven instability in Sinai and its sealing of the border to protect national interests. Examination of how Arab power politics often outweighed Palestinian self‑determination.
18 snips
May 7, 2026 • 55min
113: Will dumping Israel backfire on the Democrats? A conversation with Hussein Mansour
Hussein Abu Bakr Mansour, a JINSA fellow and analyst of Arab political thought, warns that Democratic centrists are ceding Israel to an ascendant anti‑Zionist left. He traces parallels to the DEI takeover, historic leftist shifts, Fanonian influences, and the rise of a new institutional elite. The discussion covers political costs, risks to American power projection, and whether reversal is possible.
57 snips
May 3, 2026 • 1h 3min
112: Why the world Is obsessed with Zionism, with Alana Newhouse
Alana Newhouse, writer and founder/editor of Tablet magazine, explores her essay 'Zionism for Everyone' and presents Zionism as a social technology for building meaning and cohesion. She discusses why Western societies project anxieties onto Zionism. Conversation covers post-nationalism's failures, nation-building examples, and how distinct national culture restores agency in a tech-flattened world.
24 snips
Apr 29, 2026 • 36min
111: How Somaliland and Israel became fast friends, with Amb. Mohamed Hagi
Mohamed Hagi, Somaliland diplomat who served as the first envoy to Taiwan and Israel, discusses Somaliland’s surprising rise. Short, vivid conversations cover how Somaliland built peace and democracy, why it still lacks wide recognition, practical Israeli cooperation on water and tech, and the strategic role of Berbera port amid regional security challenges.
59 snips
Apr 26, 2026 • 1h 9min
110: Van Jones on what broke the Black-Jewish alliance
Van Jones, activist and former Obama advisor who founded Dream Corps, reflects on the fraying Black–Jewish alliance. He recounts the partnership’s origins, how it shaped democracy, and why mistrust grew after events like October 7 and DEI rollbacks. He explores structural barriers, media and algorithmic divides, and practical ways to rebuild trust and joint action.
36 snips
Apr 23, 2026 • 1h 8min
109: The crisis no one is talking about in Canada, with Dr. Casey Babb
Dr. Casey Babb, director of the Promised Land Project and scholar of antisemitism and public policy, explains shifts in Canadian Jewish life. He discusses rising violence and fear after October 7. He explores who is behind attacks, why Canadian institutions struggle to name causes, and what community responses and policy changes might look like.
14 snips
Apr 20, 2026 • 29min
108: How personal grief built a nation
A tour of Israel’s remembrance arc from Holocaust commemoration through Memorial Day to Independence Day and Herzl’s yahrzeit. Listens to how personal mourning practices shaped national rituals. Explores survivors turning private loss into public memory and how memory fuels rebirth and vigilance. Highlights the intimate stories behind collective remembrance.
52 snips
Apr 16, 2026 • 14min
107: What does Ezra Klein get wrong?
A critique of Ezra Klein’s portrayal of Israeli-Palestinian realities, focusing on slogans, history, and framing. A close look at Israeli control across the territory and gaps in Palestinian governance. Sharp discussion of settler violence, Palestinian politics, and the risks of a Hamas takeover. Regional context with Hezbollah, Lebanon, and the limits of progressive prescriptions.
23 snips
Apr 15, 2026 • 54min
106: After October 7, can Israeli politics be rebuilt? A conversation with Dr. Einat Wilf
Einat Wilf, former Knesset member and political thinker now leading the Oz party, reflects on how October 7 reshaped Israeli politics. She discusses breaking tribal voting, mobilizing disillusioned young veterans, the Haredi draft crisis, and a vision of universal uniformed service. Short, urgent conversation about whether a new political map can emerge.
