Boundless Insights - with Aviva Klompas

Boundless Israel, Inc.
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When it comes to Israel, antisemitism, and American Jewry, the conversations are seemingly endless—there are so many perspectives and so many difficult questions that it can be hard to know where to start.That’s why we created Boundless Insights—to bring you thoughtful, in-depth, and engaging discussions to help make sense of the issues.Our goal is to become your trusted source for insights that are not just informative, but also empowering – giving you the confidence to start conversations of your own.

  1. 6 days ago

    Mamdani Was Just the Beginning - with Brianna Wu

    We want to hear from you. Send questions and comments to podcast@boundlessisrael.org The rise of democratic socialism is no longer confined to a handful of high-profile politicians. Across the country, insurgent candidates are defeating establishment Democrats, building sophisticated political organizations, and reshaping the future of the Democratic Party. Host Aviva Klompas is joined by political strategist and former congressional candidate Brianna Wu to examine what is driving this movement and why its influence extends far beyond a few headline-grabbing elections. They discuss the growing divide between traditional Democrats, progressives, and democratic socialists; why opposition to Israel has become a defining feature of the movement; the role of activist networks and political infrastructure; and what recent primary victories reveal about the Democratic Party's future. The conversation also explores the upcoming Michigan Senate race, the rise and fall of insurgent candidates like Graham Platner, and whether the party is undergoing a temporary shift or a more lasting political realignment. Guest Bio: Brianna Wu rose to national prominence during Gamergate, a flashpoint in the video game industry that pioneered many of the toxic tactics now common in online political discourse. She ran for Congress in 2018 as a progressive Democrat, but experienced a sharp break with her party following the October 7th Hamas attacks. Today, she is a prominent advocate for U.S./ Israel national security cooperation and a leading voice in the evolving debate over liberalism, extremism, and the future of the trans movement.

    Mamdani Was Just the Beginning - with Brianna Wu

  2. 15 Jul

    Is the US-Israel Relationship Salvageable? – with Dr. Michael Oren

    We want to hear from you. Send questions and comments to podcast@boundlessisrael.org Former White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel used a major speech in Israel to lay out what many see as the foreign policy vision of a potential 2028 presidential campaign and his message was blunt: the U.S.-Israel relationship is at a crossroads. In this episode, host Aviva Klompas is joined by Dr. Michael Oren to examine Emanuel's diagnosis of Israel's strategic position and the future of the alliance between Jerusalem and Washington. They discuss Emanuel's claim that Israel has become too reliant on military power and his argument that decades of unconditional American support enabled some of Israel's worst decisions. Guest Bio: Michael Oren served in the IDF as a Lone Soldier in the paratroopers. He was Israel’s ambassador to the United States from 2009 to 2013 and later served as a Member of Knesset and Deputy Minister of Diplomacy. He is the author of several New York Times bestsellers including Six Days of War, Ally: My Journey Across the American-Israel Divide, and Power, Faith, and Fantasy. Ambassador Oren published 2048: The Rejuvenated State in 2023 and is the founder of Israel Advocacy Group. Mentioned in This Episode: Rahm Emanuel’s Speech

    Is the US-Israel Relationship Salvageable? – with Dr. Michael Oren

  3. 8 Jul

    Escalation with Iran – with Dan Shapiro

    We want to hear from you. Send questions and comments to podcast@boundlessisrael.org or message Aviva on X at @avivaklompas. Just when it seemed the conflict between the United States and Iran might be settling into an uneasy stalemate, the region lurched back toward escalation. In this episode, host Aviva Klompas is joined by Ambassador Dan Shapiro, former U.S. ambassador to Israel and a distinguished fellow at the Atlantic Council, to make sense of a fast-moving and often contradictory situation. They discuss the latest military exchanges between the United States and Iran, the uncertain future of the MOU, the status of Iran's nuclear program, and whether diplomacy is gaining ground—or simply delaying another round of conflict. Guest Bio: Ambassador Daniel Shapiro is a distinguished fellow with the Atlantic Council’s Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative. He previously served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for the Middle East from 2024 to 2025, Senior Adviser on Regional Integration in the State Department’s Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, and US Ambassador to Israel from 2011 to 2017.

    Escalation with Iran – with Dan Shapiro

  4. 1 Jul

    When the Left Left the Jews - with Batya Ungar-Sargon

    For generations, American Jews were among the Democratic Party's most loyal supporters, seeing liberal politics as a natural extension of Jewish values. Today, that relationship is under increasing strain. Host Aviva Klompas sits down with columnist, television host, and author Batya Ungar-Sargon to discuss her new book, The Jews and the Left. Together, they examine how a century-long political alliance evolved—and why so many Jews now feel politically and culturally homeless. They explore why Jews became Democrats in the first place, the ideological transformation of the modern Left, and how opposition to Israel became a defining issue within progressive politics. Batya explains why she believes October 7 exposed deep fault lines for many progressive Jews, addresses the debate over anti-Zionism and antisemitism, and discusses whether similar political shifts could emerge on the Republican right. Whether you agree with Batya's conclusions or not, this conversation offers a thoughtful look at one of the most consequential political and cultural questions facing American Jews today. Guest Bio Batya Ungar-Sargon is the host of Batya! on NewsNation, where she is a weekend anchor. She is a frequent contributor to the New Yok Post and a columnist for the Free Press. An Orthodox Jew, she earned her PhD in English from the University of California, Berkeley, and lives in Brooklyn, New York.

    When the Left Left the Jews - with Batya Ungar-Sargon

  5. 22 Jun

    From Medieval Myths to Modern Jew-Hatred - with Flora Cassen

    What does a 14th-century stained glass window in a Brussels cathedral have to do with a "Jew hunt" in the streets of Amsterdam in 2024 or the slogans appearing on American campuses after October 7? Professor Flora Cassen joins Dr. Rachel Fish to discuss her new book, Stained Glass: A Reflective History of Antisemitism, and to explore how antisemitism has taken shape across different places and historical periods.  Drawing on both her scholarly work on European Jewish history and her personal experience, Cassen explains that contemporary antisemitism cannot be understood apart from the deep cultural layers it draws on, even when its newest expressions appear secular, political, or imported from elsewhere. The conversation examines how anti-Jewish ideas have been constructed, adapted, and sustained over time, from early religious frameworks to later economic, racial, and political forms. The discussion highlights the importance of approaching antisemitism with historical precision, avoiding overly simplistic narratives while still recognizing its persistence and adaptability. Further Reading: Stained Glass: A Reflective History of Antisemitism by Flora Cassen Guest Bio: Flora Cassen is the Lavine Family Director of the Brandeis Center for Jewish Studies and the Director of the Sarnat Center for the Study of Anti-Jewishness at Brandeis University. She is also a Senior Fellow at the Shalom Hartman Institute. Originally from Antwerp, Belgium, Cassen earned her B.A. in History and Law from the Université Libre de Bruxelles, her M.A. in Comparative History from Brandeis, and her PhD in Hebrew and Judaic Studies from New York University. She has published widely in both academic and public venues such as Haaretz, The Forward, Slate, Aeon, Sources, and Smithsonian Magazine.

    From Medieval Myths to Modern Jew-Hatred - with Flora Cassen

  6. 17 Jun

    Qatar Buys America – with Jonathan Schanzer

    We want to hear from you. Send questions and comments to podcast@boundlessisrael.org or message Aviva on X at @avivaklompas. Qatar is one of the smallest countries in the world. Yet according to a new report from the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, it has invested more than $400 billion in the United States over the past fifteen years. Where has that money gone? And what does Qatar hope to gain in return? In this episode, Aviva Klompas speaks with Jonathan Schanzer, Executive Director of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, about Qatar's vast footprint across American life—from universities and K-12 education to lobbying firms, think tanks, real estate, energy infrastructure, professional sports, and defense. They discuss why Qatar has spent so heavily cultivating influence in the United States, how it has positioned itself as an indispensable partner in Washington while simultaneously hosting Hamas leaders and supporting Islamist movements, and why so many American institutions have accepted Qatari funding with relatively little scrutiny. Guest Bio: Dr. Jonathan Schanzer is Executive Director at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, where he oversees the organization’s research and policy work. A former terrorism finance analyst at the U.S. Treasury, Jonathan has tracked and disrupted funding networks for groups like Hamas and al-Qaeda. He’s authored several books on the Middle East, including Gaza Conflict 2021, State of Failure, and Hamas vs. Fatah. A frequent congressional witness and media commentator, his analysis appears regularly in major outlets including CNN, Fox News, and the BBC. Mentioned in this episode: Mapping Qatar’s $400 Billion Footprint in the United States The Ugly Game: The Corruption of FIFA and the Qatari Plot to Buy the World Cup by Heidi Blake

    Qatar Buys America – with Jonathan Schanzer

  7. 15 Jun

    The Iran Deal – with Jonathan Schanzer

    We want to hear from you. Send questions and comments to podcast@boundlessisrael.org or message Aviva on X at @avivaklompas. One year after the United States and Israel launched a war that devastated Iran's military leadership and nuclear infrastructure, Washington and Tehran say they have reached an agreement to formally end the conflict. But what exactly is in the deal? In this episode, Aviva Klompas speaks with Jonathan Schanzer, Executive Director of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, about the emerging agreement, what Iran may be gaining in return, and whether the war's original objectives have quietly been set aside. They discuss Iran's use of Hezbollah and the Strait of Hormuz as leverage, the effort to link the Lebanese front to the broader confrontation with Israel, and what the agreement could mean for the future of the region. Guest Bio: Dr. Jonathan Schanzer is Executive Director at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, where he oversees the organization’s research and policy work. A former terrorism finance analyst at the U.S. Treasury, Jonathan has tracked and disrupted funding networks for groups like Hamas and al-Qaeda. He’s authored several books on the Middle East, including Gaza Conflict 2021, State of Failure, and Hamas vs. Fatah. A frequent congressional witness and media commentator, his analysis appears regularly in major outlets including CNN, Fox News, and the BBC.

    The Iran Deal – with Jonathan Schanzer

  8. 8 Jun

    Much Ado About Iran – with Andrew Fox

    We want to hear from you. Send questions and comments to podcast@boundlessisrael.org or message Aviva on X at @avivaklompas. For weeks, President Trump has insisted that Washington and Tehran are on the verge of a deal. But events over the last 24 hours tell a different story. Iran fired ballistic missiles at Israel. Israel struck targets inside Iran. The Houthis launched a missile from Yemen. And once again, the region finds itself balancing between diplomacy and escalation. In this episode, host Aviva Klompas is joined by Andrew Fox, a former British Army major and conflict researcher, to unpack the latest escalation and the strategic questions now facing Israel, Iran, and the United States. They discuss Iran's attempt to link the Hezbollah front in Lebanon to the broader confrontation with Israel, whether the latest exchange is likely to remain limited or expand into something larger, and what President Trump's diplomacy reveals about the current state of U.S.-Israel relations. The conversation also examines the future of negotiations with Iran, the role of Hezbollah and the Houthis, the difference between tactical and strategic success in warfare, and how military leaders balance battlefield gains against political and diplomatic realities. Guest Bio Andrew Fox is a frontline conflict researcher and former British Army officer who served for 16 years in the Parachute Regiment, reaching the rank of Major. He completed multiple deployments in Afghanistan—including alongside U.S. Army Special Forces—as well as tours in Bosnia, Northern Ireland, and the Middle East. A specialist in modern warfare, disinformation, and the Middle East, he previously taught War Studies and leadership at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and is currently pursuing a PhD focused on lessons from the October 7 attacks and the war in Ukraine. Andrew is a senior associate fellow at several international policy institutes and a frequent media commentator, appearing on outlets including Fox News, BBC Newsnight, Sky News, and i24. His reporting and analysis have taken him to the front lines in Gaza, Lebanon, and Ukraine. He is also the author of a widely read Substack on conflict, security, and global affairs.

    Much Ado About Iran – with Andrew Fox
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When it comes to Israel, antisemitism, and American Jewry, the conversations are seemingly endless—there are so many perspectives and so many difficult questions that it can be hard to know where to start.That’s why we created Boundless Insights—to bring you thoughtful, in-depth, and engaging discussions to help make sense of the issues.Our goal is to become your trusted source for insights that are not just informative, but also empowering – giving you the confidence to start conversations of your own.

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