The Western Spirit - With Ariel Whitman

Ariel Whitman
  • 4.9 (14)
  • Politics
  • Updated weekly

My name is Ariel Whitman and I live in the heart of Israel. I am the host of a podcast series focusing on the challenges of the West, in the 21st century, from a conservative, classically liberal, and libertarian perspective. We will touch on all current issues while giving emphasis to our lives here in the State of Israel and, more broadly, in the West. Amongst the interviews you will hear from world famous philosophers, intellectuals, government officials, and even ordinary citizens with fascinating stories, from here in Israel and from around the world.

  1. 1 day ago

    JD Vance Won’t Get the Nomination Unless He Breaks With Tucker | Victor Davis Hanson

    💥 Help keep The Western Spirit independent: https://buymeacoffee.com/WesternSpirit❤️ Support us on YouTube with Super Thanks — click the Thanks button below the video.📩 Business & advertising: thewesternspiritpodcast@gmail.com📚 Get Victor Davis Hanson’s new book, The Counterrevolution: The Fall and Rise of Donald Trump and the MAGA Movement:https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/victor-davis-hanson/the-counterrevolution/9781541607842/⁠Victor Davis Hanson joins The Western Spirit for a wide-ranging conversation about Donald Trump, Iran, JD Vance, Tucker Carlson, Israel, antisemitism, and the growing divisions inside the American right.Hanson explains why he believes JD Vance will eventually have to confront Tucker Carlson, and why remaining silent about what Hanson describes as antisemitism could have serious consequences for Vance's political future. Hanson also discusses his own history with Carlson and why he decided he could no longer remain silent about Carlson's comments on Israel.The conversation also turns to Trump and Iran. Hanson argues that an electoral setback in the midterms could actually make Trump less constrained rather than more cautious, as Trump thinks about his remaining time in office, the war with Iran, and his political legacy.Finally, Hanson offers a provocative explanation for changing Western attitudes toward Israel and Jews: why sympathy can come more easily when Jews are perceived as victims, and why a powerful, confident Israel can provoke a very different reaction.Chapters00:00Introduction and guest overview01:06Current US political climate and midterm predictions02:00Historical trends in US midterm elections03:05Economic indicators and inflation challenges04:02Impact of Biden’s foreign policy and Iran05:37US military and Middle East strategy07:07Midterm election strategies and potential outcomes08:32Tightening races and campaign funding09:29Achievements of the Trump administration10:23Border security and immigration policy11:18US military recruitment and DEI issues12:17Greenland, Latin America, and global influence13:15The left’s shift and anti-Israel activism17:36Anti-Israel sentiment and its roots18:38US public opinion on Israel and Middle East politics22:28Wealthy immigrant communities and political influence25:46Jewish community success and perceptions29:22Challenges facing Israel and Netanyahu’s leadership36:38Trump’s foreign policy and potential 2024 strategies41:35The MAGA movement as an idea beyond Trump47:23The internal struggles within US political factions55:46The risks of international pressure on Israel01:01:55Israel’s security and complacency risks01:10:55The importance of Israeli deterrence and strength01:12:19The future of Israel and US-Israel relations#VictorDavisHanson #DonaldTrump #JDVance #TuckerCarlson #Iran #Israel

  2. 2 days ago

    Tucker Carlson Ended Our Friendship. Then I Watched Him Change | Rod Dreher

    💥 Help keep The Western Spirit independent: https://buymeacoffee.com/WesternSpirit❤️ Support us on YouTube with Super Thanks — click the Thanks button below the video.📩 Business & advertising: thewesternspiritpodcast@gmail.comThe National Conservatism Conference (NatCon) is an international gathering of public figures, journalists, scholars and students who see conservatism as closely tied to the nation, national independence and the revival of distinctive national traditions. The next conference will take place in Jerusalem from October 6–8, 2026, bringing together leading Israeli and international voices to debate national sovereignty, security, immigration, foreign policy, religion, family and the future of democratic government.More information: https://nationalconservatism.org/natcon-jerusalem-2026/en/about/Rod Dreher joins The Western Spirit for a wide-ranging conversation about the political and cultural crisis unfolding across the West. Dreher discusses his broken friendship with Tucker Carlson, why he says he no longer recognizes the man he once knew, and his concerns about the direction of parts of the American right.Dreher also reveals what he has told JD Vance privately about antisemitism and racism on the right and why he believes Vance will eventually have to take a stand. The conversation explores the transformation of American conservatism, Israel's increasingly contentious place in right-wing politics, and the forces reshaping the Republican coalition.The conversation then turns to Europe, mass migration, Islam, political radicalization and Dreher's warning that the conditions associated with civil conflict are already present in parts of Europe — leaving the continent, in his words, “waiting for a spark to set it off.”Chapters:00:00 The Weimar Republic and America Today02:44 What Rod Dreher Saw in Washington05:02 Are We Recreating Weimar’s Conditions?07:43 Christian Nationalism and Thin Theology11:06 Tucker Carlson, Antisemitism, and Political Leadership23:06 What Changed in Tucker Carlson?29:17 Loneliness, Community, and Radicalization42:02 Christianity, Islam, and the West50:17 The Internet, Memory, and Antisemitism55:49 Israel, October 7, and the Future of U.S.–Israel Relations#RodDreher #TuckerCarlson #JDVance #Europe #Israel #Conservatism #NatCon #westernspirit

  3. 7 Oct

    They’re Preparing for Full-Blown Economic Warfare Against Israel | Mark Dubowitz

    💥 Help keep The Western Spirit independent: https://buymeacoffee.com/WesternSpirit❤️ Support us on YouTube with Super Thanks — click the Thanks button below the video.📩 Business & advertising: thewesternspiritpodcast@gmail.comMark Dubowitz has spent decades thinking about sanctions, economic pressure and Iran. Today, he is chief executive of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and co-founder of its Center on Economic and Financial Power. In this episode of The Western Spirit, Dubowitz warns that Israel is facing a new kind of campaign—one fought not only with missiles and armies, but through financial, economic, diplomatic and political pressure. He argues that tools developed to isolate adversaries such as Iran could increasingly be used against Israel itself.We also get into the battle taking place inside American politics. Dubowitz discusses Tucker Carlson, his late father Richard Carlson, and what he sees as a disturbing rise of antisemitism on parts of both the American right and left. He explains why he believes the stakes extend far beyond Israel—and why Americans should pay attention.This is a conversation about Iran, Israel, sanctions, economic warfare, antisemitism and the political forces reshaping the United States and the West.Chapters00:00Introduction: The Global Offensive Against Israel01:12Mark Dubowitz's Background and Focus on Iran02:20Sanctions Architecture and Its Turn Against Israel04:44International Efforts to Sanction West Bank Businesses06:46De-risking and Its Impact on Israeli and Global Banks08:39The Future of US Sanctions and Political Support for Israel10:34Israel's Military Strength vs Diplomatic Isolation11:51Public Support for Israel in the US and Political Trends14:31The Role of Political Rhetoric and Leadership in Israel17:46The Need for Responsible Politics and Coalition Building23:23The Influence of Anti-Israel Propaganda and Fractures in US Politics27:22The Rise of Anti-Semitism and Political Extremism in America33:46US and Israeli Strategies for the Future37:48Iran's Weakened Regime and Future Threats45:56The Political Landscape in the US and Its Impact on Israel54:46The Safety of Jews in America and the Path Forward#MarkDubowitz #Israel #TuckerCarlson #Iran #Antisemitism #WesternSpirit

  4. 6 Oct

    Who’s Pouring Money Into the Pro-Palestine Protests? | Balázs Orbán

    💥 Help keep The Western Spirit independent: https://buymeacoffee.com/WesternSpirit❤️ Support us on YouTube with Super Thanks — click the Thanks button below the video.📩 Business & advertising: thewesternspiritpodcast@gmail.comAfter 16 years in power, Viktor Orbán's Fidesz has lost control of Hungary. In this episode of The Western Spirit, Balázs Orbán discusses the political upheaval that followed and lays out his case against Hungary's new government, Brussels and the direction Europe is taking. He argues that critics spent years portraying the Orbán government as authoritarian, only for the new government to target conservative politicians and institutions after taking power.We also discuss mass immigration and the European Union, Hungary's long-running confrontation with Brussels over border policy, Europe's economic trajectory, and Balázs Orbán's argument that immigration is changing Western European societies. He explains why he believes national sovereignty remains central to Hungary's political future.The conversation also turns to Israel: Hungary's relationship with Benjamin Netanyahu, the International Criminal Court, European attitudes toward Israel, pro-Hamas activism, sanctions, and the growing political divide over Israel across Europe. Balázs Orbán also explains why he believes the West is stagnating—and why national and patriotic political movements will remain a major force in European politics.Chapters00:00Hungary's governance and migration dynamics02:27The recent Hungarian election and its implications04:26Perceptions versus reality of Orban's government05:44Media control and censorship in Hungary08:27Judicial reforms and rule of law concerns11:13The liberal deep state and democratic threats14:38Media landscape and foreign influence16:48Electoral challenges and future leadership18:49European trends and Hungary as a model22:01European Union policies and Hungary's position26:28Hungary's stance on immigration and border control29:35Demographic trends and family policies35:35Lessons for Europe and the West40:07Hungary-Israel relations and European perceptions44:03Israel's image in Europe and geopolitical factors50:46The influence of leftist and Islamist alliances55:55Patriotic movements and cultural resilience01:00:00European sanctions, energy, and globalism01:01:27Closing remarks and lessons for the future#Hungary #BalazsOrban #ViktorOrban #Europe #Immigration #EuropeanUnion #Brussels #Israel #Netanyahu #Politics #NationalConservatism #WesternSpirit

  5. 5 Oct

    "Jews Are Incapable of Fighting Antisemitism" | Adam Milstein

    💥 Help keep The Western Spirit independent: https://buymeacoffee.com/WesternSpirit❤️ Support us on YouTube with Super Thanks — click the Thanks button below the video.📩 Business & advertising: thewesternspiritpodcast@gmail.comAdam Milstein joins The Western Spirit for a wide-ranging conversation about antisemitism, radical Islam, Qatar’s influence in America, Israel, American politics, and the growing divisions inside both the Republican and Democratic parties.Milstein argues that Americans are underestimating the threat posed by radical Islam and warns that the United States could follow the path he believes Europe has taken. He also delivers a striking criticism of the Jewish community’s response to antisemitism, recounting conversations with wealthy Jews who, he says, are afraid to speak publicly or even financially support the fight because they fear the consequences.The conversation also turns to Qatar and Washington, with Milstein alleging that Qatar has built extraordinary political and media influence in the United States. He discusses Tucker Carlson, JD Vance, the DSA, the Democratic Party, the conservative movement, Iran, Israel, and why he believes political movements on both the left and right are being transformed.Milstein also gets personal, explaining how watching his own daughters lose their connection to Judaism pushed him closer to Jewish life and faith — and why he ultimately concluded that his fight against antisemitism had to reach far beyond the Jewish community.Learn more about infidel awareness month here: https://InfidelAwareness.com#AdamMilstein #Antisemitism #Israel #Qatar #RadicalIslam #AmericanPolitics #TuckerCarlson #JDVance #TheWesternSpirit

  6. 1 Oct

    "The Price of Entry Is to Say You Hate Israel" | Eliana Johnson

    💥 Help keep The Western Spirit independent: https://buymeacoffee.com/WesternSpirit❤️ Support us on YouTube with Super Thanks — click the Thanks button below the video.📩 Business & advertising: thewesternspiritpodcast@gmail.comEliana Johnson, editor-in-chief of the Washington Free Beacon and a regular on the Commentary Magazine podcast, joins The Western Spirit for a wide-ranging conversation about Donald Trump, JD Vance, Tucker Carlson, Israel, antisemitism, the Democratic Party and the future of American politics. Johnson discusses declining support for Israel among some younger Republicans and why she believes JD Vance is trying to navigate between the Republican Party's pro-Israel voters and the constituency represented by Tucker Carlson. She also addresses the growing influence of the progressive left inside the Democratic Party and why Israel has become such a divisive issue in American politics. We also discuss what American Jews are experiencing after October 7, antisemitism on elite university campuses, whether it is safe to be visibly Jewish in parts of New York City, and whether American Jews' relationship with progressive politics is changing. Johnson also explains why she believes universities changed their behavior under pressure from the Trump administration rather than because of genuine institutional reform. Finally, Johnson discusses Trump's war with Iran, the U.S. midterm elections, Benjamin Netanyahu and the U.S.-Israel relationship—and whether changing political attitudes toward Israel are really about Netanyahu or reflect something much deeper in American politics.Chapters00:00Introduction and guest background04:02Generational shifts and support among young Republicans08:01The role of political figures like JD Vance and Chuck Schumer12:08Jewish students at elite universities post-October 714:02The impact of October 7 on Democratic Party politics15:47The internal dynamics of the Republican Party17:59The shift in Democratic Party's stance on Israel19:59Jewish community reactions and concerns22:09The 2024 US elections and foreign policy24:06Israel's military strategy and international relations25:50The future of US-Israel relations and political support27:52Elite universities and Jewish student life29:59The impact of government policies on Jewish communities32:00The political landscape in Israel and its influence on US politics34:01The role of media and public opinion35:51Safety concerns for Jewish Americans37:52The upcoming Israeli elections and their US implications40:08The responsibility of Israeli leadership42:03Israel's military actions and international perception44:05Closing remarks and final thoughts#ElianaJohnson #JDVance #TuckerCarlson #Israel #Antisemitism #DonaldTrump #AmericanPolitics

  7. 30 Sept

    "Trump Is Making a Mistake With Iran" | H.R. McMaster, Former National Security Adviser

    💥 Help keep The Western Spirit independent: https://buymeacoffee.com/WesternSpirit❤️ Support us on YouTube with Super Thanks — click the Thanks button below the video.📩 Business & advertising: thewesternspiritpodcast@gmail.comH.R. McMaster, President Donald Trump’s former National Security Adviser and a retired U.S. Army lieutenant general, joins The Western Spirit for a wide-ranging conversation about Trump, Iran, Israel, Russia, Ukraine, China and the future of American foreign policy.McMaster argues that lasting peace with Iran will require a fundamental change in the nature of the Iranian government, warns that negotiations with the existing regime could merely pause the conflict, and explains why he believes Iran remains at the center of instability across the Middle East. He also addresses America’s weapons and interceptor shortages, the Strait of Hormuz, and what the United States could do next. We also confront the growing backlash against Israel inside the United States. Is America really “subservient” to Israel? McMaster calls that idea nonsense and explains what he believes the United States gains from its alliance with Israel. He also discusses antisemitism and anti-Israel sentiment on parts of both the American left and right, and why he believes resentment and conspiracy theories are fueling the phenomenon. Finally, McMaster discusses China and Taiwan, Kim Jong Un, Vladimir Putin and Ukraine—including how he believes Putin attempts to manipulate foreign leaders and why Trump’s view of the war in Ukraine has changed. Chapters00:00Introduction to H.R. McMaster's insights on U.S. foreign policy01:28President Trump's foreign policy doctrine and priorities04:31The strategy behind Trump's approach to Middle East conflicts08:00The objectives and uncertainties of U.S. actions in Iran12:04The impact of recent conflicts on Iran and regional stability19:02U.S. military capabilities and readiness in the Middle East25:13The influence of Israel on U.S. foreign policy and strategic interests32:00U.S.-Israel military cooperation and future prospects32:57The evolving situation in Taiwan and Chinese threats36:57The Ukraine conflict and U.S. support for Ukraine41:13The broader implications of global alliances and adversaries#HRMcMaster #DonaldTrump #Iran #Israel #Ukraine #Russia #ForeignPolicy

  8. 29 Sept

    "The Numbers Don’t Add Up" | Andrew Fox Challenges the Naza Film

    💥 Help keep The Western Spirit independent: https://buymeacoffee.com/WesternSpirit❤️ Support us on YouTube with Super Thanks — click the Thanks button below the video.📩 Business & advertising: thewesternspiritpodcast@gmail.comThe new documentary Naza has ignited controversy over its allegations about Israeli airstrikes, civilian casualties and the IDF’s use of intelligence and AI in Gaza. But Andrew Fox, a former British Army officer and researcher at the Henry Jackson Society, says the claims being promoted simply don’t add up.Fox challenges the film’s anonymous testimony, questions the lack of verification behind its most explosive allegations, and argues that the very process of calculating collateral damage around military targets may undermine rather than support claims of indiscriminate killing. He also explains what actually happens when Western militaries assess civilian casualties and proportionality before a strike. We also discuss the film’s reception at the Venice Film Festival, the psychology of groupthink around Israel, the consequences of publicly defending the IDF, growing hostility toward Israel in Britain, and why Fox worries that European sanctions could become the beginning of something much larger. Chapters00:00Introduction to the controversy surrounding Naza02:09The claims made in the Naza documentary and their credibility03:51Legal and ethical considerations of targeting military leaders08:00The role of lawyers and rules of engagement in Israel's military12:02The influence of social media and groupthink on public perception16:03International sanctions and their impact on Israel20:13The importance of critical thinking and independent analysis23:56The psychological aspects of disinformation and social conformity28:10The future of Israel's military strategy and international relations#AndrewFox #Israel #Naza #Gaza #IDF #VeniceFilmFestival

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4.9
out of 5
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About

My name is Ariel Whitman and I live in the heart of Israel. I am the host of a podcast series focusing on the challenges of the West, in the 21st century, from a conservative, classically liberal, and libertarian perspective. We will touch on all current issues while giving emphasis to our lives here in the State of Israel and, more broadly, in the West. Amongst the interviews you will hear from world famous philosophers, intellectuals, government officials, and even ordinary citizens with fascinating stories, from here in Israel and from around the world.

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