In this special Election Day episode of Being Jewish with Jonah Platt, Emmy Award–winning journalist Jake Tapper joins Jonah for a candid and wide-ranging conversation on politics, identity, and truth-telling in a polarized world. Best known as the anchor of CNN’s The Lead with Jake Tapper and State of the Union, Jake reflects on his decades covering America’s most defining political moments — from the Virginia governor’s race to the New York City mayoral election — and how journalism has evolved in an era of social media outrage and political echo chambers.
Together, Jonah and Jake explore the intersections of Jewish identity, antisemitism — past and present — and the evolving challenges of journalistic integrity in today’s press environment. Jake also opens up about his writing process and his latest books — Race Against Terror, which follows the pursuit of an Al-Qaeda killer, and Original Sin, his political thriller about a presidential cover-up during the 2024 election.
This episode is a deep dive into the ethics of journalism, the responsibility of storytelling, and what it means to stay empathetic and informed in turbulent times. It’s a timely, thought-provoking listen for anyone who cares about democracy, truth, and the power of Jewish values in public discourse.
Topics covered include:
- Discussing Key Political Races
- The Democratic and Republican Parties
- Concerns Within the Jewish Community
- Antisemitism in Politics
- Personal Experiences with Antisemitism
- Challenges in Media Reporting
- Jake Tapper's Jewish Identity
- Jewish High School Experiences
- Jewish Summer Camp Memories
- Interfaith Marriages and Family Traditions
- Writing About Joe Biden
- Race Against Terror: A New Book
- Five Deep Questions with Jake Tapper
Sponsors
Sponsored by Berkeley Moshav
https://www.berkeleymoshav.org/
Mentioned in the Episode:
Understanding The Tower of Babel
Sodom and Gomorrah; The Cities Destroyed by God
What Really Happened at Mount Sinai
Bullsh*t Behavior & Central Synagogue's Rabbi Angela Buchdahl
Race Against Terror: Chasing an Al Qaeda Killer at the Dawn of the Forever War by Jake Tapper
What Does “Globalize the Intifada” Mean and How Can it Lead to Targeting Jews with Violence?
Protests at Jake Tapper’s Home
Hamas Weaponizes Sexual Assault in GAZA
Adi Vital-Kaploun, killed on October 7th, 2023
NY Times Admits to Relying Too Heavily on Hamas Reporting
News outlets’ erroneous “14,000 babies” claim
Watch the 2024 Presidential Debate
Inside the Trump Family’s Global Crypto Cash Machine
United States vs Ahmed Ghailani
Selected Religious Poems Of Solomon Ibn Gabirol Translated Into English Verse By Israel Zangwill
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