From Tehran to the U.S.: Protest, Oppression and Rising Antisemitism
Release Date: 01/21/2026
From Tehran to the U.S.: Protest, Oppression and Rising Antisemitism
Third Opinion Podcast
As Iran dominates global headlines, this episode looks inside the country’s growing unrest against the Islamic Republic. Podcaster Barak Schwartz shares the words of an Iranian woman who criticizes activists chanting “Free Palestine” while ignoring Iran’s brutal oppression. The show also features a CBN interview with Iranian-Canadian commentator Goldy Ghamari, who says heavily armed regime forces and terrorist proxy groups have murdered thousands of civilians demanding freedom. In the U.S., the program examines an antisemitic attack in Jackson, Mississippi, where a suspect accused of...
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A Week of Fire, Protests and Power Plays
Third Opinion Podcast
Mike and Laureen break down the major U.S. and international stories shaping the week, examining the arson attack on a 160-year-old synagogue in Mississippi, where Torah scrolls were burned, but a Holocaust Torah survived. The hosts also discuss a pro-Hamas protest held outside a Queens, New York synagogue during Shabbat and controversy surrounding an event for preschoolers in New York City co-hosted by Mamdani and Miss Rachel. In a featured interview with John Anderson, journalist and author Douglas Murray explains why much of the Arab world shows little concern for the Palestinian cause. Ben...
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Examining Christian Nationalism and Doctors Without Borders in Gaza
Third Opinion Podcast
Show recorded on 1/5/26: This week’s show opens with a look at NYC Mayor Mamdani’s first week in office and actions taken that make it a less safe place for Jews. Mike and Laureen examine the growing push for Christian Nationalism and its implications for Jewish communities, featuring Wall Street Journal reporter Aaron Zitner’s interview with Pastor Doug Wilson of Christ Church, a leading advocate for merging church and state. The hosts also unpack why Israel has barred Doctors Without Borders from operating in Gaza, arguing the organization is not what it claims to be, with analysis...
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Facts, Fiction and Fear: Israel, Antisemitism and the Battle for Truth
Third Opinion Podcast
A powerful clip from Beginning Within’s Rabbi Aryeh Weinstein examines a revealing exchange between Penn State University’s Sam Richards and his students during a lecture asserting that “Palestine did not exist 200 years ago,” a claim that stunned students who view it as their ancestral homeland. Rabbi Weinstein unpacks why historical literacy matters and how emotional narratives often replace facts in today’s discourse. The program also features Australian television host Julia Hartley-Brewer in conversation with author and commentator Melanie Phillips, examining why the Gaza...
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A Light Against the Darkness: Chanukah, Terror Plots and Jewish Resilience
Third Opinion Podcast
Recorded on December 22: Mike and Laureen reflect on the eight days of Chanukah and what it means for the Jewish community to be a light in a darkening world. From 18,000 people gathering at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center to massive Chanukah solidarity events in Amsterdam and controversy in London as the city’s mayor attempted to halt a vigil for the Bondi victims — the week underscored both resilience and resistance. Amid rising threats, the FBI thwarted a New Year’s Eve terror plot involving multiple bombings in the Los Angeles area, while Australian authorities intercepted seven men en...
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When Celebration Turns to Terror: The Bondi Beach Attack
Third Opinion Podcast
Recorded December 15, 2025: Mike and Laureen dedicate this episode to the violent antisemitic attack targeting Australia’s Jewish community during a Chanukah gathering at Bondi Beach. The show includes excerpts from Australian television coverage and firsthand witness accounts as events unfolded. They discuss statements from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who cited earlier warnings to Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese about rising antisemitism, as well as updates from Sydney’s police chief, who labeled the incident terrorism and vowed accountability amid an ongoing...
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Eurovision Fallout, NYC BDS Ban and the Clooney Controversy
Third Opinion Podcast
This week, Mike and Laureen remember beloved Rabbi Gary Klein (z”l) and examine Hamas’ refusal to honor a disarmament agreement. They unpack George Clooney’s offhand comments about Amal Clooney’s involvement in drafting the Muslim Brotherhood’s constitution, an organization recently designated as a terrorist group in Florida and Texas. They cover major cultural flashpoints, including mainstream magazines boost of anti-Jewish messaging and Eurovision’s rejection of an Israeli boycott that triggered the withdrawal of Spain, the Netherlands, Slovenia and Ireland. The hosts spotlight...
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Rebuilding Gaza, Revisiting History and the Rise of AI Nonsense
Third Opinion Podcast
Week of 12/1/25: This week on the show features an in-depth conversation with “The Economist’s” Middle East reporter Gregg Carlstrom and correspondent Rosie Blau, who explain why Gaza is unlikely to be rebuilt any time soon and explore various plans for overcoming barriers. The hosts discuss JTV’s Ollie Ansfeld report on reasons why some Jews supported Hitler during the 1930s in hopes of their own survival. Mike and Laureen look at the week’s major headlines including an AI-generated top 10 “Best Books of 2025,” that included three titles that don’t exist; Hamas...
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Palestinian Persistence, Terror Financing and the Ideological Fight on American Soil
Third Opinion Podcast
Week of 11/24/25: Mike and Laureen break down the recent high-profile Oval Office meeting between NYC Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani and President Trump, focusing not just on what was discussed, but what was left unsaid. The episode features a compelling clip from political commentator Ken LaCorte, who explains why Palestinians continue their struggle despite overwhelming losses. The hosts discuss a conversation between CBS’ Major Garrett and the Free Press’ Tanner Nau and analyze Nick Fuentes’ efforts to influence the Republican Party by mobilizing young right-wing voters through a new...
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From Capitol Hill to New York to Gaza: Political Shift, Viral Disinformation and the Rise of Hate
Third Opinion Podcast
This week, Mike and Laureen dive deep into the recent election of Zohran Mamdani and the immediate, alarming warnings that followed, suggesting this political shift could place New York's Jewish community in danger and on high alert. A special interview with Maor Elbaz-Starinsky, the former Consul General of Israel to Florida, Puerto Rico, Kansas, and Missouri, offers a powerful and sobering perspective on the alarming rise of antisemitism across the US and globally, underscoring the real-world violence fueled by hate. A look at the week’s headlines reveals “lies of genocide” being...
info_outlineAs Iran dominates global headlines, this episode looks inside the country’s growing unrest against the Islamic Republic. Podcaster Barak Schwartz shares the words of an Iranian woman who criticizes activists chanting “Free Palestine” while ignoring Iran’s brutal oppression. The show also features a CBN interview with Iranian-Canadian commentator Goldy Ghamari, who says heavily armed regime forces and terrorist proxy groups have murdered thousands of civilians demanding freedom.
In the U.S., the program examines an antisemitic attack in Jackson, Mississippi, where a suspect accused of burning a synagogue laughed during his confession and called it a “synagogue of Satan.” Mike also highlights Israel’s “Stand for Freedom, Not Terror” social media campaign and New York Governor Kathy Hochul’s proposal for a 25-foot protest buffer zone around synagogues.
Finally, Mike explores both sides of the Hillsborough State Attorney’s decision not to pursue hate crime charges against three suspects accused of interrupting a religious service at the University of South Florida, instead charging them with hate crimes.
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