#political-history
26 episodes
#1389: The Architect of a Nation: Ben-Gurion’s Radical Statism
Explore how David Ben-Gurion used radical austerity and the philosophy of Mamlachtiyut to forge a unified nation from the desert sand.
#1367: The Third Force: Between the Military and the Police
Explore the thin line between soldiers and police, from medieval France to modern legal battles over the limits of federal power.
#1342: Why Israel’s Youth are Defying Global Political Trends
While Western youth lean left, Israeli Gen Z is moving right. Discover the historical shifts and traumas driving this unique political divergence.
#1337: The Four Year Itch: Why the Permanent State Matters
Explore the "volatility trap" and why the civil service serves as the essential institutional memory that keeps the state from capsizing.
#1336: Faith vs. Freedom: The Cracks in Israel's Status Quo
Can a democracy survive with theocratic features? We explore Israel’s legislative shifts and the battle over religious control at the Western Wall.
#1319: The Dhimmi System: Life Under the Pact of Umar
Explore the complex legal reality of dhimmitude and how the Pact of Umar shaped Jewish life in the Islamic world for over a millennium.
#1295: The Statehood Question: History, Law, and Sovereignty
Does the lack of a historical Palestinian state invalidate modern claims to sovereignty? We debate legal realism versus inherent human rights.
#1290: The Irish Lion Hunter Who Built the Israeli Army
Discover the surreal story of John Henry Patterson, the Irish soldier who founded the first Jewish fighting force in 2,000 years.
#1289: The Prophetic Clock: The Roots of Christian Zionism
Explore how a 19th-century theology turned the State of Israel into a "prophetic clock" and a cornerstone of modern American foreign policy.
#1260: The 20 Percent: Navigating Arab Identity in Israel
Explore the complex reality of the two million Arab citizens in Israel and the tug-of-war between their national and civic identities.
#1186: Invisible Architects: The Ghostwriters of Democracy
Behind every major bill and court ruling is a ghostwriter. Explore the "invisible architects" who shape the legal language governing our lives.
#1166: The Morbegs: Myth, Memory, and the Burning Tree
Explore the hidden philosophy of the Irish classic The Morbegs and why a giant orange puppet still haunts our collective memory.
#1149: The Pattern Machine: The Science of Conspiracy Theories
From ancient Rome to modern forums, why is the human brain hardwired to find patterns in chaos? Explore the science of the "secret."
#1137: The Accidental Border: How Gaza Got Its Shape
Why is the Gaza Strip shaped like that? Explore the military "glitch" that turned a 1949 armistice line into a permanent reality.
#1125: Zionism-Washing: Is Zionism Inseparable from Judaism?
Is Zionism a modern political choice or a 3,000-year-old identity? Explore the "Zionism-washing" movement and its historical implications.
#985: Banking on Surveillance: The Secret History of KYC
How did opening a bank account become a security clearance? Trace the evolution of KYC from the 1970s to the age of AI surveillance.
#972: The Last Minyan: Why Jews Are Leaving Ireland
From the closure of Cork’s last synagogue to rising political hostility, we explore why Ireland’s Jewish community is facing an uncertain future.
#970: The Limits of the State: Can a Nation Survive Anarchy?
Explore the boundaries of power as we look at stateless Somalia, private cities in Honduras, and the radical mini-state of Liechtenstein.
#931: Dismantling the Octopus: The New Push for Iranian Change
Explore the surgical strategies and "economic octopus" behind the current push for regime change in Iran and the dismantling of the IRGC.
#860: The Strongman Era: Why Democracy is Backsliding
Explore why the world is retreating toward authoritarianism despite an era of decentralized technology and global connectivity.
#750: The Architecture of the Other: Why We Divide
Explore the ancient roots of human prejudice, from Sumerian steles to the digital echo chambers of the modern "global village."
#733: The Strategy Lab: Inside the World of War Colleges
How do modern generals use ancient history to plan for AI warfare? Explore the high-stakes world of professional military education.
#568: The Birth of the Border: How Countries Were Invented
How did we go from sprawling empires to rigid borders? Explore the history of the modern country, from Westphalia to the French Revolution.
#512: The OPEC of Dirt: Why Israel Owns 93% of Its Land
Why does the Israeli state own 93% of the land? Herman and Corn explore the history and the impact of this unique monopoly on the housing market.
#483: From Sultans to Sovereignty: Building a Modern State
Explore how 400 years of Ottoman rule and 30 years of British mandate built the physical and legal foundations of the modern State of Israel.
#148: The Accountability Gap: Why Your Vote Doesn't Have a Face
Why can’t you call your representative about a pothole? Explore the history and trade-offs of Israel’s unique national voting system.