Join Jim and Greg as they cheer the Abraham Accords and hope President Trump is right that several other Arab nations may soon normalize relations with Israel as well. They also discuss the claims of a possible Chinese whistleblower who claims she has evidence that COVID-19 came from a lab rather than a wet market and the Chinese Communist Party has been covering its tracks ever since. Jim explains why she ought to release whatever she has as soon as possible. And as the “experts” keep insisting states are totally prepared for massive mail-in voting, they groan as Michigan can’t even get the names in the presidential race right on the ballot.
Israel
Major Middle East Progress, What Biden Won’t Say, Libs & Wildfires
Listen to “Major Middle East Progress, What Biden Won’t Say, Libs & Wildfires” on Spreaker.
Join Jim and Greg as they applaud the normalization of relations between Israel and Bahrain and indications that Saudi Arabia may soon follow suit. They also discuss the premeditated shootings of two Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies on Saturday and why Joe Biden condemns the shooting but not the people blocking the ambulances from reaching the hospitals and chanting that they hoped the deputies died. And Jim explains why the wildfires in the western U.S. are exposing the extreme policies of some Democrats and environmental activists.
Israel-UAE Peace, Dems’ Maine Problem, Jobless Numbers Drop Again
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Join Jim and Greg as they sip three good martinis today. First, they’re thrilled to hear that Israel and the United Arab Emirates are normalizing relations. They also shudder to learn the Maine Democratic Senate hopeful Sara Gideon repeatedly blocked legislation to ban female genital mutilation, but are thankful the story is coming to light for voters to consider. And they cheer weekly first-time jobless claims dropping below one million for the first time since the pandemic began.
Inside the Israeli Elections
Listen to “Inside the Israeli Elections” on Spreaker.
On Monday, Israeli voters went to the polls for the third time in less than a year to determine it’s political leadership. After two election results that failed to result in a winner, voters this time seem more favorable to keeping Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Incomplete returns show Netanyahu’s Likud Party winning the most seats. When factoring coalition partners, Netanyahu is within a seat or two in the Israeli Knesset of being able to forge a new government, but getting those final few seats could be a major challenge.
Why is Israeli so divided politically? Why did Netanyahu do better in this election despite having formal corruption charges lodged against him? What are the pros and cons of Netanyahu’s chief rival, Gen. Benny Gantz of the Blue and White Party.
We discuss all of these questions with retired Israeli Brig. General Elihu Ben-Onn, who also offers his advice on how to avoid another exhausting campaign if Netanyahu cannot form a government in the days ahead.
Netanyahu Charged: What’s Next in Israel?
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is already in the midst of a political drama and now he’s facing a legal one too.
On Thursday, Israeli Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit announced Netanyahu is charged with bribery, fraud, and breach of trust. Bribery carries a maximum sentence of ten years while the other charges could bring an additional three years. The allegations stem from allegations Netanyahu accepted gifts in exchange for political favors and also provided regulatory relief to two major media outlets in exchange for favorable coverage.
Netanyahu says the indictments are politically motivated and contends it may be time to “investigate the investigators.”
All of this comes as Netanyahu serves as a caretaker prime minister in Israel. Parliamentary elections were held in Israel in September. Netanyahu and chief rival Benny Gantz finished in a virtual dead heat, but neither party was anywhere close to holding a majority in the Israeli parliament, the Knesset.
Netanyahu was given the first chance to form a coalition government with smaller parties but he failed. Gantz was then given the opportunity to forge a majority government and also failed. Right now, the Knesset is tasked with choosing a prime minister or another election will have to be scheduled.
Is the evidence against Netanyahu compelling or a political smear as he alleges? Do these charges change the political dynamics in Israel or are loyalties largely entrenched as they are in the U.S.? And would new elections actually lead to a decisive winner or just result in another stalemate?
We address these questions and more as Greg Corombos interviews American Foreign Policy Council Vice President Ilan Berman.
What’s Next in Israel?
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On Tuesday, voters in Israel voted in another round of parliamentary elections. As expected, the results show a virtual dead heat between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud Party and the Blue and White Party led by retired Israeli Gen. Benny Gantz.
Blue and White shows a very slight lead in the election returns, but neither party is anywhere close to having a majority of seats in the Israeli parliament. Both sides say they are willing to forge a unity government but both Netanyahu and Gantz insist on being prime minister.
So what happens now? How will a majority coalition get assembled? What happens if there can be no majority? And how much will things change in Israel if Gantz becomes prime minister?
This podcast addresses all these questions and more as Greg Corombos interview American Foreign Policy Council Senior Vice President Ilan Berman.
Devastating Debt, Trump’s Disloyalty’ Problem, Dr. Biden’s Blunder
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Jim Geraghty of National Review and Greg Corombos of Radio America have no good martinis today. They wince as the national deficit creeps closer to $1 trillion again and lament that neither party has any intention of seriously addressing the problem before disaster strikes next decade. They also cringe as President Trump rightly slams Rashida Tlaib, Ilhan Omar, and other far left lawmakers for pushing the anti-Semitic BDS movement but then says says any Jews who vote for Democrats are being disloyal. And they get a kick out of Jill Biden telling Democrats that her husband might not be the best candidate but voters should get on board because he has the best chance to beat Trump.
Durham Probing Investigators, Tlaib’s Revisionist History, Bullock’s Bad Move
Alexandra DeSanctis of National Review and Greg Corombos of Radio America applaud Attorney General Bill Barr for appointing U.S. Attorney John Dunham to look into how the FBI’s Trump-Russia probe started and that all sides of the 2016 allegations will get investigated. They also shudder as Rep. Rashida Tlaib doubles down on her suggestion that Palestinians willingly sacrificed to accommodate the modern state of Israel after World War II and then accuses her critics of being “racist idiots.” And they note the presidential campaign of Montana Gov. Steve Bullock and how this supposed moderate vetoed the Born Alive Infant Protection Act just days before jumping in the race.
Why Netanyahu Won Again
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On Tuesday, Israeli voters once again decided to keep Benjamin Netanyahu as prime minister, rewarding him and his coalition partners for a decade of strong economic growth and national security, but also suggesting a new party will be a major player in Israeli politics over the coming years.
Netanyahu’s Likud party actually tied the upstart Blue and White party, by winning 35 seats apiece in the 120-seat Israeli parliament, known as the Knesset. But when adding in like-minded parties, Netanyahu’s coalition is expected to control 65 seats in the new government.
So why is Netanyahu still popular after ten years in office, even while facing corruption charges?
Foundation for the Defense of Democracies President Clifford May says Israeli voters credit Netanyahu for turning their economy around and rightly so.
“He, as finance minister and as prime minister, is more responsible than anyone else for Israel making a transition from essentially a democratic socialist government to a capitalist economy,” said May.
May says Netanyahu’s strong defense of Israel against hostile neighbors like Hamas and Syria are also appreciated by the Israeli people, although he says the Blue and White party also fielded a candidate – retired Gen. Benny Gantz – who has strong national security credentials.
Listen to the full podcast as May discusses what Netanyahu’s win means for U.S.-Israeli relations and how the politics in Israel have shifted greatly in just a few years.
Victory for Bibi, Barr to Probe Russia Probe, America’s Tax Illiteracy
Listen to “Victory for Bibi, Barr to Probe Russia Probe, America’s Tax Illiteracy” on Spreaker.
Jim Geraghty of National Review and Greg Corombos of Radio America congratulate Benjamin Netanyahu on winning his fifth election for Prime Minister of Israel and hope the warm relations between the country and the US will continue. They also look forward to the investigation into how the Russian probe began after Attorney General William Barr promised an inquiry into the matter while testifying before Congress. And they worry about poor Republican messaging after most of the country thinks the tax cuts hurt them because they got a small refund this year, despite the significant decrease in money being withheld from paychecks in the first place.