Call Me Back - with Dan Senor

Ark Media
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Presenting the challenges and dilemmas facing Israelis to a global audience.

  1. 24 MINS AGO

    The Untold Story of Hannah Senesh - with Matti Friedman

    Subscribe to Inside Call me Back to listen to our 4-part series with Ronen Bergman.  ____ Subscribe to Ark News Daily ____ What do we owe the stories of people who sacrificed everything, even when they did not succeed? As Israel approaches Yom Hazikaron after two and a half years of war, Dan speaks with author and journalist Matti Friedman about one of the most iconic and least understood stories in Israeli history: the parachutists of 1944. At the center is Hannah Senesh, whose name became synonymous with courage, even though the mission itself failed in military terms. Purchase Matti’s book here.  In this episode: - The real story behind Hannah Senesh and the parachutists of 1944 - The 1944 parachutist mission  - Why the mission had no clear or achievable objective - Why the parachutists chose to act despite knowing they would likely fail - How the parachutists understood their role as shaping a future story - What Hannah Senesh’s life and death reveal about sacrifice - How Israel turned this mission into a national myth - What this story offers Israelis after October 7 This episode is sponsored by the IDF Widows and Orphans Organization. Learn more and support their work at idfwo.org. More Ark Media: Want to join Ark Media? Check out our careers page for new openings. Explore Israel Votes Listen to For Heaven's Sake Listen to What’s Your Number? Watch Call me Back on YouTube Newsletters | Ark Media | Amit Segal | Nadav Eyal Instagram | Ark Media | Dan X | Dan Dan Senor & Saul Singer’s book, The Genius of Israel Get in touch Credits: Ilan Benatar, Adaam James Levin-Areddy, Brittany Cohen, Ava Weiner, Martin Huergo, Mariangeles Burgos, and Yuval Semo

    42 min

  2. 1 DAY AGO

    Sneak Peek: Death by a Thousand Cuts - with Ronen Bergman

    For the full episode, subscribe here to Inside Call me Back. ____ Subscribe to Ark News Daily ____ This is a sneak peek from the members-only edition of Inside Call Me Back, the final installment of our four-part series with Ronen Bergman. After the U.S. exits the JCPOA, Israel and the U.S. launch a campaign of sanctions, sabotage, and targeted assassinations, what Bergman calls “death by a thousand cuts.” In this preview, Bergman details the AI-assisted assassination of Iran’s top nuclear scientist and why, despite the scale and sophistication of the operation, it was not enough to stop Iran’s nuclear program. More Ark Media: Want to join Ark Media? Check out our careers page for new openings. Explore Israel Votes Listen to For Heaven's Sake Listen to What’s Your Number? Watch Call me Back on YouTube Newsletters | Ark Media | Amit Segal | Nadav Eyal Instagram | Ark Media | Dan X | Dan Dan Senor & Saul Singer’s book, The Genius of Israel Get in touch Credits: Ilan Benatar, Adaam James Levin-Areddy, Brittany Cohen, Ava Weiner, Martin Huergo, Mariangeles Burgos, and Yuval Semo

    15 min

  3. 4 DAYS AGO

    The Continuation of War by Other Means - with Tal Becker

    Subscribe to Inside Call me Back to listen to our 4-part series with Ronen Bergman.  ____ Subscribe to Ark News Daily ____ If the shooting stops, is the war actually over? Dan is joined by Ark Media contributor and VP of the Hartman Institute Dr. Tal Becker to explore whether the next phase will be driven less by military action and more by political pressure, economic leverage, and shifting regional alliances. They unpack why there’s no clear definition of “victory,” what dynamics the war has set in motion, and whether Israel and its partners can turn short-term gains into long-term strategic advantage, all while the nuclear threat continues to loom. In this episode: - 03:42 – Why there’s no agreed definition of victory in this war - 04:48 – How to measure success through objectives, cost, and long-term dynamics - 06:45 – What comes after the ceasefire and the possible paths forward - 02:00 – How war can continue through pressure without direct combat - 09:06 – The case for a regional alliance against Iran - 11:09 – How Gulf states are reassessing their strategy - 26:00 – What happens if Iran races toward a nuclear weapon - 33:15 – The legal debate over justification, self-defense, and imminence More Ark Media: Want to join Ark Media? Check out our careers page for new openings. Explore Israel Votes Listen to For Heaven's Sake Listen to What’s Your Number? Watch Call me Back on YouTube Newsletters | Ark Media | Amit Segal | Nadav Eyal Instagram | Ark Media | Dan X | Dan Dan Senor & Saul Singer’s book, The Genius of Israel Get in touch Credits: Ilan Benatar, Adaam James Levin-Areddy, Brittany Cohen, Ava Weiner, Martin Huergo, Mariangeles Burgos, and Yuval Semo

    43 min

  4. 13 APR

    Is the war going well? - a debate between Dan Shapiro and Mark Dubowitz

    Subscribe to Inside Call me Back to listen to our 4-part series with Ronen Bergman.  ____ Subscribe to Ark News Daily ____ According to a recent CBS / YouGov poll, 41% of Americans think that the war with Iran is going well, while 59% believe it is going badly.  Can a war be won when the country fighting it doesn’t agree on whether it’s going well? As the U.S. moves to blockade the Strait of Hormuz following failed negotiations, the debate is no longer just about battlefield gains, it’s about strategy, legitimacy, and what success really means. Dan Senor brings together former U.S. Ambassador to Israel Dan Shapiro and FDD CEO Mark Dubowitz for a good-faith debate on where the war stands and where it should go next. From military progress to political will, and from alliance dynamics to endgame scenarios, this conversation unpacks the fault lines shaping the American debate. In this episode: Where do things stand after the failed U.S–Iran talks and the Hormuz blockade? How Dan and Mark define whether the war is “going well” What the U.S. and Israel have actually achieved militarily Can the war be won if the Iranian regime remains intact What economic, political, and human costs should Americans expect from this war? How is the war affecting U.S. alliances and global standing? Is the best path forward to escalate, contain, or shift strategy? What happens if the war ends before achieving its core objectives? This episode was sponsored by United Hatzalah. Donate today at IsraelRescue.org/CallMeBack. Add this number to your phone right now if you live in Israel – 1221, and for those visiting it’s 972-2-5-383838. Listen to Mark’s podcast The Iran Breakdown. More Ark Media: Want to join Ark Media? Check out our careers page for new openings. Explore Israel Votes Listen to For Heaven's Sake Listen to What’s Your Number? Watch Call me Back on YouTube Newsletters | Ark Media | Amit Segal | Nadav Eyal Instagram | Ark Media | Dan X | Dan Dan Senor & Saul Singer’s book, The Genius of Israel Get in touch Credits: Ilan Benatar, Adaam James Levin-Areddy, Brittany Cohen, Ava Weiner, Martin Huergo, Mariangeles Burgos, and Yuval Semo

    51 min

  5. 11 APR

    Sneak Peek: How Mossad Stole Iran’s Nuclear Archive - with Ronen Bergman

    For the full episode, subscribe here to Inside Call me Back This is a sneak peek from this week’s members-only Inside Call Me Back (Part 3 of our 4-part series on Inside Mossad’s Shadow War with Iran with Ronen Bergman). In the aftermath of the JCPOA, Israel is forced to rethink its approach. With a military strike off the table, the strategy shifts. Mossad is tasked with finding a definitive “smoking gun” that would prove Iran’s military nuclear ambitions. That effort sets off a chain of events that leads to one of the most daring intelligence operations in modern history - the discovery and theft of Iran’s nuclear archive. For the full series, subscribe here to Inside Call me Back More Ark Media: Want to join Ark Media? Check out our careers page for new openings. Subscribe here to Ark News Daily Explore Israel Votes Listen to For Heaven's Sake Listen to What’s Your Number? Watch Call me Back on YouTube Newsletters | Ark Media | Amit Segal | Nadav Eyal Instagram | Ark Media | Dan X | Dan Dan Senor & Saul Singer’s book, The Genius of Israel Get in touch Credits: Ilan Benatar, Adaam James Levin-Areddy, Brittany Cohen, Ava Weiner, Martin Huergo, Mariangeles Burgos, and Yuval Semo

    23 min

  6. 8 APR

    Ceasefire at the 11th hour - with Nadav Eyal and Mark Dubowitz

    Subscribe to Ark News Daily ____ Subscribe to Inside Call me Back to listen to our 3-part series with Ronen Bergman.  ____ Did Iran blink, or did the U.S. pull back too soon? At the 11th hour, the U.S. and Iran agree to a two-week ceasefire, stepping back from a major escalation. Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz is set to resume under the ceasefire—but the core issues driving the war remain unresolved. Dan is joined by Nadav Eyal and Mark Dubowitz to break down what was actually agreed to, why Israel’s security establishment is uneasy, and whether this pause reflects strategic success—or a missed opportunity. Is this a real off-ramp…or just a temporary pause before the next phase? In this episode: 03:15 - A Ceasefire at the Brink: What Was Actually Agreed 05:33 - The Strait of Hormuz: Reopening Under What Terms? 06:57 - The Missing Pieces: Nuclear Program and Missiles Still Unresolved 08:18 - Israel’s Alarm: Why the Security Establishment Is Worried 14:30 - Did Iran Blink—or Gain Leverage? 15:42 - Trump’s Red Lines: What Must a Final Deal Include? 21:21 - Political Risks: Israel, the U.S., and the Blame Game 35:24 - Endgames: Diplomacy, Regime Pressure, or Renewed War This episode was sponsored by the Jewish Communal Fund. Learn more about JCF’s donor advised funds at jcfny.org. Listen to Mark’s podcast The Iran Breakdown. More Ark Media: Want to join Ark Media? Check out our careers page for new openings. Explore Israel Votes Listen to For Heaven's Sake Listen to What’s Your Number? Watch Call me Back on YouTube Newsletters | Ark Media | Amit Segal | Nadav Eyal Instagram | Ark Media | Dan X | Dan Dan Senor & Saul Singer’s book, The Genius of Israel Get in touch Credits: Ilan Benatar, Adaam James Levin-Areddy, Brittany Cohen, Ava Weiner, Martin Huergo, Mariangeles Burgos, and Yuval Semo

    48 min

  7. 5 APR

    Countdown to Trump’s 48-Hour Ultimatum — with Nadav Eyal and Amit Segal

    Subscribe to Ark News Daily ____ Subscribe to Inside Call me Back to listen to our 3-part series with Ronen Bergman.  ____ Will Trump’s ultimatum trigger a decisive strike on Iran—or force a last-minute deal? As the clock ticks toward a U.S. deadline, Dan is joined by Nadav Eyal and Amit Segal to break down what comes next: a widening war, a strategic endgame, or something in between. They unpack competing military options, the role of Iran’s energy sector, the risks of escalation across the region, and whether regime change is a realistic outcome—or a dangerous illusion. In this episode: 02:45 - Trump’s Ultimatum: What It Actually Means 05:45 - Extend, Escalate, or Strike: The U.S. Decision Tree 06:42 - Targeting Iran’s Energy Sector: Pressure vs. Shock 11:03 - Ground Forces on the Table? Risks and Realities 17:00 - No Deal, No Deterrence: Can This War End Cleanly? 18:00 - Iran’s Leverage: Hormuz and Regional Retaliation 21:30 - Endgames: Regime Change, Containment, or End This episode was sponsored by Hadassah. Please go to Hadassah.org to make a gift that helps Hadassah continue its longstanding, life-changing support for the people in Israel. More Ark Media: Want to join Ark Media? Check out our careers page for new openings. Explore Israel Votes Listen to For Heaven's Sake Listen to What’s Your Number? Watch Call me Back on YouTube Newsletters | Ark Media | Amit Segal | Nadav Eyal Instagram | Ark Media | Dan X | Dan Dan Senor & Saul Singer’s book, The Genius of Israel Get in touch Link to Javad Zarif article on Foreign Affairs: https://www.foreignaffairs.com/middle-east/how-iran-should-end-war-javad-zarif Credits: Ilan Benatar, Adaam James Levin-Areddy, Brittany Cohen, Ava Weiner, Martin Huergo, Mariangeles Burgos, and Yuval Semo

    43 min

  8. 30 MAR

    Ground Assault or Diplomacy? - with Nadav Eyal and Fred Kagan

    Subscribe to Inside Call me Back to listen to our 3-part series with Ronen Bergman ____ Subscribe to Ark News Daily ____ Is the war heading towards a ground assault or a push for a deal? To explore the possibilities, Dan is joined by Ark Media contributor Nadav Eyal and Fred Kagan, director of the Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute. In this episode: 02:24 - Two Tracks, One War: Escalation vs. Diplomacy 03:33 - Inside the Air Campaign: What’s Been Degraded—and What Hasn’t 08:33 - Diplomacy During War: Contradiction or Strategy? 10:57 - Iran’s Mindset: Why Tehran Thinks It’s Winning 15:54 - The Strait of Hormuz: Leverage, Illusion, or Real Control? 17:15 - What a U.S. Ground Operation Could Look Like 20:06 - Energy, Escalation, and Regional Spillover Risks 24:24 - Endgames: Deal, Deterrence, or Something Bigger? More Ark Media: Want to join Ark Media? Check out our careers page for new openings. Explore Israel Votes Listen to For Heaven's Sake Listen to What’s Your Number? Watch Call me Back on YouTube Newsletters | Ark Media | Amit Segal | Nadav Eyal Instagram | Ark Media | Dan X | Dan Dan Senor & Saul Singer’s book, The Genius of Israel Get in touch Credits: Ilan Benatar, Adaam James Levin-Areddy, Brittany Cohen, Ava Weiner, Martin Huergo, Mariangeles Burgos, and Patricio Spadavecchia, Yuval Semo

    31 min
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Presenting the challenges and dilemmas facing Israelis to a global audience.

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