Podcast Title: What A Day
Host: Jane Coaston
Episode: In Israel And Gaza, War Opposition Grows
Release Date: May 30, 2025

Introduction

In this episode of What A Day, host Jane Coaston delves deep into the escalating opposition to the ongoing conflict in Israel and Gaza. As the war surpasses 600 days since the initial Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023, the humanitarian crisis intensifies, prompting widespread protests both within Israel and the Gaza Strip. Jane engages in a compelling conversation with Shael Ben Efraim, an Israeli academic and host of the Israel Palestine Report and the History of the Land of Israel podcast, to explore the burgeoning anti-war movements and their implications for the future of the region.

The Evolving Protest Movement in Israel

Shael Ben Efraim provides a comprehensive overview of how the protest landscape in Israel has transformed since the war's inception. Initially, [03:02] there was a unified front supporting the war effort across the political spectrum, likened to a "911 rally around the flag moment." However, as the conflict dragged on, doubts about the government's efforts to secure the release of hostages emerged.

• Shael: "At the start of the war, there was complete and total consensus around the justification of this war that ranged from the extreme left to the extreme right." [03:02]

This consensus began to fracture around May and June, as it became evident that the government might not be doing everything possible to retrieve hostages. This led to a split within the protest movement:

• Shael: "Over the last couple of months, there's been a further split within the protest movement between those who are still focused on the hostages and only the hostages and those who are as focused or more focused on ending the war and the suffering of the Palestinians." [04:03]

The distinction between hostage-centric protests and broader anti-war demonstrations has become more pronounced, with humanitarian-focused protests gaining traction and media attention.

Opposition to the War on Humanitarian Grounds

Despite the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, opposition to the war on these grounds remains relatively marginal within Israel. Shael attributes this to the overwhelming consensus that defeating Hamas is paramount, leading to the dehumanization of Palestinian civilians in political discourse.

• Shael: "The main reason for that is because there is completely wide consensus in Israel, from the right to almost the fringe left, that Hamas needs to be removed and that Hamas needs to be defeated." [05:24]

Criticism of the war is often met with accusations of traitorous behavior, resulting in social ostracization. However, skepticism towards Prime Minister Netanyahu's commitment to genuinely winning the war has fueled increased support for the anti-war movement.

• Shael: "A lot of people in Israel feel that Netanyahu is not fighting this war in order to win it. He's fighting the war for his own personal survival." [05:24]

Protests in Gaza Against Hamas

Jane shifts focus to the lesser-covered protests within Gaza against Hamas. Despite the inherent dangers, Palestinians have begun to voice their dissent against Hamas's rule and the prolonged conflict.

• Shael: "Palestinians are protesting against Hamas despite the real risk of violence and recriminations from Hamas-run security forces." [06:42]

Several factors contribute to this shift:

1. Declining Popularity of Hamas: From the onset of the war, Hamas's reputation has suffered due to their mismanagement and prioritization of self-interest over the welfare of Gaza's residents.

2. Diminished Control: As Hamas loses its grip on governance, their ability to suppress dissent weakens.

3. Desperation and Fatalism: With limited prospects for a favorable outcome, many in Gaza believe that resisting Hamas is a matter of dignity, even in the face of inevitable personal loss.

• Shael: "If you're going to die anyway, you might as well die with some honor." [07:39]

Prospects for Ending the War

The combined pressure from protests in both Israel and Gaza presents a potential catalyst for ending the conflict. Shael expresses cautious optimism, noting that the Palestinian population harbors hopes for a post-war scenario where Hamas's influence wanes, possibly replaced by a more moderate governance structure supported by international actors like the UAE and Saudi Arabia.

• Shael: "There's some hope among regular Palestinians in Gaza that maybe the Hamas leadership will be deported or go into exile." [09:03]

Additionally, a segment of the population in both regions pinches their hopes on renewed international intervention, with some viewing figures like former President Trump as potential peace brokers.

• Shael: "They're acting as they're acting... Maybe Trump will come in and make all this happen." [09:03]

U.S. Tariffs and Trade Policies

Transitioning to international trade, the episode covers ongoing disputes surrounding U.S. tariffs. Peter Navarro, the White House trade advisor, provides insights into the volatile nature of tariffs post the enactment of President Donald Trump's Liberation Day tariffs.

• Peter Navarro: "The back and forth of the online on and off again tariffs. The rulings is that these tariffs are going to go into effect regardless and that the administration will find a way to get it done." [12:41]

A recent federal appeals court decision temporarily reinstated most of these tariffs, despite earlier blocks by the U.S. Court of International Trade, which deemed some actions as exceeding presidential authority. Navarro attributes the confusion and regulatory back-and-forth to Democratic efforts to undermine Trump's trade agenda.

• Jane: "He also said that department officials will enhance scrutiny on future visa applications from China and Hong Kong." [12:25]

Harvard University's Legal Battle

The podcast also highlights the legal tussle between Harvard University and the Trump administration over the enrollment of international students. A federal judge has maintained a temporary restraining order, allowing Harvard to continue admitting international students amidst lawsuits challenging the administration's restrictions.

• Jane: "The ruling is a huge win for Harvard." [15:53]

Harvard's President Alan Garber received a standing ovation during the commencement ceremony, symbolizing the institution's resilience and commitment to maintaining its diverse student body.

The Controversial MAHA Health Report

A significant portion of the episode critiques the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) report released by the Health and Human Services (HHS). Numerous inconsistencies and fabricated studies have been identified, undermining the report's credibility.

• Peter Navarro: "We know that because in part we reached out to some of the listed authors who said that they didn't write the studies cited." [16:16]

Despite these revelations, Caroline Levitt, the White House Press Secretary, defends the report's substance, attributing errors to formatting issues and assuring that corrections are underway.

• Peter Navarro: "The minor errors in the report have been fixed." [17:30]

Jane challenges this defense by highlighting the severity of the fabricated references, questioning the authenticity and reliability of the entire report.

Hawaii's Bold Climate Tax Initiative

In a move to combat climate change, Hawaii has enacted a pioneering law imposing a tax on hotel rooms and vacation rentals. This initiative aims to generate approximately $100 million annually to fund wildfire and hurricane preparedness, drawing inspiration from the fictional "White Lotus Hotel" concept.

• Peter Navarro: "President Donald Trump has dismissed climate change as a scam and is rapidly rolling back federal action, but states are picking up the slack." [18:35]

Governor Josh Green emphasized the necessity of such forward-thinking measures to address increasingly frequent and severe climate disasters.

• Governor Josh Green: "There will be no way to deal with these crises without some forward-thinking mechanism." [18:53]

Audience Capture: The Case of Nancy Mace

Jane introduces the concept of audience capture, where public figures become radicalized by their audience's demands, often leading to extreme and harmful behaviors. Using South Carolina Republican Representative Nancy Mace as a case study, the episode illustrates how audience capture can distort a politician's intentions and actions.

• Jane: "Audience capture can happen to almost anyone with an audience, but it doesn't have to happen to you." [18:53]

Nancy Mace's transformation from a moderate Republican striving to attract diverse voters to a figure entrenched in transphobic rhetoric exemplifies the dangers of audience capture. Her strategic use of social media to bolster her image and garner support from the more extreme factions showcases the manipulative potential of this phenomenon.

• Jane: "Nancy Mace cares a lot about what people say about her on social media platforms, mostly Facebook and Twitter." [19:10]

The podcast warns of the broader implications of audience capture, urging public figures to remain authentic and resist the allure of extreme validation from niche audiences.

Conclusion

This episode of What A Day offers a thorough examination of the multifaceted opposition to the Israel-Gaza conflict, the complexities of U.S. trade policies, the integrity of federal health reports, innovative climate initiatives at the state level, and the psychological dynamics of audience influence on public figures. Through insightful discussions and expert interviews, Jane Coaston provides listeners with a nuanced understanding of these pressing issues shaping today's socio-political landscape.

Notable Quotes:

• Shael Ben Efraim: "If you're going to die anyway, you might as well die with some honor." [07:39]
• Peter Navarro: "The administration will find a way to get it done." [12:41]
• Shael Ben Efraim: "A lot of people in Israel feel that Netanyahu is not fighting this war in order to win it. He's fighting the war for his own personal survival." [05:24]
• Governor Josh Green: "There will be no way to deal with these crises without some forward-thinking mechanism." [18:53]

Production Credits:

What A Day is brought to you by Crooked Media, recorded and mixed by Desmond Taylor, with associate producers Raven Yamamoto and Emily Foer, producer Michelle Aloy, production assistance from Johanna Case, Joseph Dutra, Greg Walters, and Julia Claire, senior producer Erica Morrison, and executive producer Adrienne Hill. Theme music by Colin Gilliard and Kashaka, proudly unionized with the Writers Guild of America East.