Word on the Street is the audio home for pro-Israel, pro-peace, pro-democracy Americans. We share regular discussions about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and American politics with politicians, advocates, legal experts, pollsters, student leaders, and more.
Three Years After October 7 with Yehuda Cohen and Mika Almog
Three years after October 7, where does Israeli society – and those communities most closely affected by the attack and the war that followed – stand today?
Israeli writer and pro-democracy activist Mika Almog and hostage father Yehuda Cohen joined us for a personal conversation about the hostages, the 2025 ceasefire and hostage deal, and the profound impact of the past three years on Israeli society. They also discussed what comes next, from Israel’s political future and the search for a path to peace to accountability and the role American Jews can play.
1 Oct 2026
Netanyahu vs. the World
This week on Word on the Street Live, we dug into Netanyahu’s latest fights – with world leaders, with NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani, and increasingly with American Jews – and what they tell us about the road ahead.
At the UN, Netanyahu used the global stage for a speech that sounded more fit for a campaign event at home than something made for diplomats in the room. And we talked about the sad irony that every time Netanyahu comes to the US, he seems to deepen the political and communal rifts here – even as he insists that Americans have no place weighing in on Israel’s future.
Shifting then to Israeli elections, the latest polling still gives Netanyahu a real path back to power. The numbers also point to a pretty complicated picture for folks in the J Street world who care deeply about both Israelis and Palestinians, as even an anti-Netanyahu government could have a large right-wing bloc in the Knesset.
Meanwhile, something important is shifting in Washington. We talked about the Senate vote to investigate human rights abuses in the West Bank, and some potentially groundbreaking legislation in both the House and Senate that would put consequences on settlement construction.
Tune in to hear the rest because we sure covered a lot of ground.
24 Sept 2026
Spotlight on Michigan: Abdul El-Sayed, Jewish voters, and what’s happening with J Street U & Hillel
This week, it’s Word on the Street… in Michigan! The Wolverine State has become ground zero in battles over Israel in partisan politics and on campus.
Jeremy’s co-host today was Lauren Haines, a 2025 Michigan grad and former national president of J Street U. She’s now a member of the J Street Digital Team and our in-house Michigan expert!
Lauren and Jeremy were joined first by Adir Waxman, the current Vice President of J Street U for the Midwest and a sophomore at Michigan, studying French Horn Performance and Politics, Philosophy, and Economics. Adir shared his experience when the J Street U affiliate at the University of Michigan was informed that they had to either disaffiliate from J Street or leave Hillel - an important part of Jewish life and experience on campus at the University of Michigan.
Adir shared why remaining a part of J Street U is so important to chapter members and why J Street’s work is important to him personally. The conversation touched on the most difficult generational questions facing younger Jewish Americans right now, how we can build community across divides, and how we can make space for disagreement while also building connection.
Next, we welcomed Samuel Bagenstoss and Eli Savit, two leading Jewish Michigan Democrats who helped lead a letter signed by more than 500 Jewish voters in Michigan urging Jews in the state to vote for Abdul El-Sayed. Samuel and Eli shared more about why they chose to be a part of this effort and what the conversation around the Senate race has been in the state’s Jewish community. We talked about the places where there is tension, but also where there is agreement - about our Jewish values, about protecting our democracy and imposing checks on Donald Trump, about how we can build bridges, and about working towards peace for Israelis and Palestinians.
Give the full conversation a listen!
Who has been a guest on J Street Conversations
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Hannah Morris
Tali DeGroot
Ben Cohen
Amy Spitalnick
Dan Shapiro
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
YouTube views
1,084,236
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Apple Podcasts (US)
4.6 / 5
9 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
2 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 56 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
65
Social presence
0
YouTube
86
Engagement
32
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Guest appearances
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