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What did the 2026 midterm elections reveal about the future of American politics?

Former Republican congressman Joe Walsh joins Boundless Insights to unpack the election results, Donald Trump's hold on the Republican Party, and the debate over the Democratic Party's direction. They also examine the growing visibility of antisemitism on both sides of the political spectrum, the controversies surrounding Senate candidates Graham Platner and Abdul El-Sayed, and what the results mean for the 2028 presidential race.

Drawing on his own political transformation from Tea Party congressman to outspoken Trump critic, Walsh reflects on America's deepening divisions and whether voters are ready to move beyond the politics of outrage.

Guest Bio:

Joe Walsh is a former Republican congressman from Illinois who was elected during the Tea Party wave of 2010. A former conservative talk-radio host, he challenged Donald Trump for the Republican presidential nomination in 2020 and later became an outspoken Trump critic. He is the host of The Social Contract with Joe Walsh podcast and founder of the Hope, Not Fear Project, which works to bridge America's political divides through honest, respectful conversations. Walsh is also a frequent political commentator on CNN, MSNBC, and other national networks.

Four years after Israel's last election, Israelis have returned to the polls in a country transformed by war, political upheaval, and profound changes across the Middle East. But what have voters decided, and who will lead the country next?

Dr. Michael Oren, historian, former Israeli ambassador to the United States, joins Boundless Insights to unpack the election results, the winners and losers, and the complicated process of forming Israel's next government.

They discuss what the results reveal about Israeli society, what they mean for Benjamin Netanyahu's political future, and how the election could reshape Israel's relationships with Washington and its neighbors across the Middle East.

With the U.S. midterm elections just days away, the stakes extend well beyond Israel's borders.

Guest Bio:

Dr. 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

Israel’s Tragic Choice by Micah Goodman

From Micah Goodman - "Do Israelis really not care what the world thinks about them? No. They care a lot. But what concerns them even more is what their enemies think. Israel’s problem is that it must cultivate two reputations, one for the West and one for the Middle East. These two reputations clash. Israelis want the Western world to love them, but their enemies in the Middle East to fear them."

We want to hear from you. Have a question, comment, or idea for the show? Email us at podcast@boundlessisrael.org

What happens when antisemitic ideas begin to shape how people understand American power, Israel, and the country’s interests abroad?

Recorded live at the University of Texas at Austin, Aviva is joined by historian, bestselling author, and former Israeli ambassador to the United States Dr. Michael Oren for a conversation about antisemitism through the lens of national security.

They examine how America’s understanding of terrorism and military power has changed in the years since 9/11, why the Palestinian cause has become intertwined with broader ideological battles over colonialism and the West, and the growing debate over whether Israel remains a strategic asset to the United States. They also grapple with where legitimate criticism of the U.S.-Israel alliance ends and older antisemitic ideas about Jewish power and influence begin.

Our thanks to the Clements Center for National Security at the University of Texas at Austin, the Texas Holocaust, Genocide, and Antisemitism Advisory Commission, and Texas Hillel for hosting this live conversation at the Topfer Center for Jewish Life.

Guest Bio:

Dr. 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.