Our guest, Rev. Michael Yoshii, talks about race relations and solidarity between Japanese Americans and Palestinians. Jess and Jamal discuss the book by former National Security Advisor John Bolton that President Trump is trying to stop from being published.
Jun 18, 2020•53 min
Arab Talk guest Dr. Hatem Bazian talks about racism and Islamophobia in the United States and Europe. Jess and Jamal discuss the ruling of the European Court of Human Rights saying that France violated the freedom of expression of pro-Palestinian activists who were convicted for campaigning to boycott Israeli goods. They also discuss the US and Israel’s efforts to intimidate the International Criminal Court in the Hague.
Jun 12, 2020•56 min
Jess and Jamal discuss the recent developments in the murder cases of George Floyd and Ahmaud Arbery. They also talk about how US law enforcement agencies have been receiving training on crowd control, use of force and surveillance by Israel’s national police, military and intelligence services. Amnesty International has condemned these practices: https://www.amnestyusa.org/with-whom-are-many-u-s-police-departments-training-with-a-chronic-human-rights-violator-israel/
Jun 04, 2020•56 min
Jamal interviews Dr. Rabab Abdulhadi, who has recently won the prestigious Georgina M. Smith Award from the American Association of University Professors. She discusses the significance of the award and the systematic attacks on her by hate groups. Jess & Jamal discuss the brutal murder of George Floyd, a 46-year-old African-American man, who was pinned down to the ground by a Minneapolis police officer, who had his knee on Floyd's neck for about eight minutes. This murder was captured on vi...
May 28, 2020•52 min
Arabic violin virtuoso Georges Lammam talks about his collection of works and how he has been coping with the shelter-in-place orders. He also performs live on Arab Talk. Jess and Jamal discuss the latest updates on the COVID-19 pandemic and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’s recent declaration to end “all the agreements and understandings with the American and Israeli governments.”
May 22, 2020•51 min
Jess and Jamal discuss the latest updates on the killing of Ahmaud Arbery. They also discuss Israel’s plans to annex large parts of the West Bank. Israeli veteran Journalist David Michaelis provides his expert analysis on the direction Israel is heading in and the future coalition government.
May 15, 2020•58 min
Jess and Jamal discuss the killing of Ahmaud Arbery and the inadequacies of citizen’s arrest laws in the United States. (Since the recording of this program, the two suspects were arrested after a major public outcry.) They also discuss Israel’s plan to annex large areas of the West Bank. The settlements are deemed illegal by most world powers and condemned by the Palestinians, who see all the West Bank, which Israel captured in a 1967 war, as theirs for a future state.
May 08, 2020•46 min
Jess and Jamal discuss Ramadan 2020 and how to practice faith in times of Covid-19, joined by the Zahra Billoo, Executive Director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, San Francisco Bay Area (CAIR-SFBA) office. They also interview political activist and university professor Rania Masri, PhD, who comments on the Lebanese government’s handling of the pandemic in a country that hosts approximately 1.5 million refugees.
Apr 24, 2020•59 min
Jess and Jamal discuss the new normal in the age of the Coronavirus (COVID-19). Is there a rush to return to old norms? What are the repercussions? Journalist Daoud Kuttab provides an update about COVID-19 and its impact on communities in Jordan and Palestine.
Apr 16, 2020•48 min
Arab Talk co-host Jamal Dajani interviews award-winning journalist and former Ferris Professor of Journalism at Princeton University, Daoud Kuttab. From his shelter-in-place in Amman, Jordan, Professor Kuttab discusses the impact of the Coronavirus there and in Palestine.
Apr 13, 2020•17 min
Jess & Jamal provide the latest updates on COVID-19, discussing how black and brown populations in the US are disproportionately affected by this pandemic. They also discuss its effects on communities in the Middle East and the misinformation disseminated on social media.
Apr 09, 2020•55 min
Jess & Jamal provide updates about the Coronavirus (COVID-19), as more than 6.6 million Americans filed for unemployment benefits last week. Jess Ghannam, PhD discusses best practices for confined people to help them deal with their mental health during this global crisis.
Apr 02, 2020•53 min
As the number of people suffering from COVID-19 is approaching half a million, Jess and Jamal discuss the importance of ’Shelter in Place,' and what life is like under the mandate. They also discuss how the Trump administration and other governmental agencies have been handling this global pandemic.
Mar 25, 2020•49 min
Jess and Jamal discuss President Trump’s mishandling of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) that has crippled China and has been spreading worldwide. At a Friday news conference at the CDC, Trump told reporters that tests for the coronavirus were now available to anyone who needed one. Shortly afterwards, several governors and public health officials said that this was categorically untrue. Co-host Jess Ghannam, PhD provides the latest updates from UCSF’s infectious disease experts to dispel misinf...
Mar 13, 2020•52 min
Jess and Jamal discuss the misinformation circulating about the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and help clarify information to help keep people healthy and safe, based on scientific facts. They also discuss Super Tuesday’s results and its long-term impact on the US Presidential Elections.
Mar 06, 2020•52 min
Jess & Jamal interview Chafika Attalai and Isis Koral from CCIF, the Collective Against Islamophobia in France. They discuss the different laws, discrimination and obstacles facing the Muslim community in France and in Europe. To learn more about CCIF, visit their website http://www.islamophobie.net/en/
Feb 21, 2020•52 min
Jamal interviews Maad Abu-Ghazalah, Founder and Executive Director of Daily Hugz, an animal shelter located in an olive grove in the village of Asira. Daily Hugz offers sanctuary to homeless and abused animals and a safe play environment for children in Palestine. Maad talks about the progress made at his sanctuary but also reflects on the current political situation and the difficulties facing Palestinians under Apartheid conditions. To learn more about Daily Hugz go to http://www.dailyhugz.org...
Feb 14, 2020•53 min
Jess and Jamal decipher President Trump’s State of the Union address and its inaccuracies. They also comment on Republican Senator Mitt Romney’s vote to convict Donald Trump, and the debacle at the Iowa caucuses and its impact on the Democratic Party.
Feb 07, 2020•53 min
Jess & Jamal discuss the unveiling of President Trump’s so-called “Deal of the Century,” which is tantamount to the Bantustans of South Africa’s apartheid regime. According to the plan, Palestinians lose all claims to Jerusalem and the right of return of refugees. Meanwhile, Israeli Colonial Settlements will be annexed to Israel along with the Jordan Valley, and security forces will continue to be posted inside Palestine, which would have to be demilitarized.
Jan 31, 2020•53 min
Jess & Jamal discuss President Trump’s impeachment trial, as Democrats argue that Trump pushed the Ukrainian government to probe Biden and his son because he was worried about facing the former vice president in November’s election. They also discuss leaked reports that current VP Mike Pence invited Benjamin Netanyahu to the White House, during the World Holocaust Forum in Jerusalem, to start discussing the “Deal of the Century,” without inviting any representatives from the Palestinian Auth...
Jan 24, 2020•51 min
Jess & Jamal discuss President Trump’s impeachment trial in the US Senate, as a trove of texts, voice mail messages, calendar entries and other records from Lev Parnas were released. An associate of the president’s personal lawyer Rudolph W. Giuliani, Parnas offered new details about the Ukraine scandal. They also discuss the recent uproar over a gaffe made by the producers and host of the popular television game show “Jeopardy!” about the location of the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem,...
Jan 17, 2020•54 min
Jess & Jamal discuss the repercussions resulting from the assassination of Iranian Major General Qasem Soleimani and the War of Misinformation surrounding Iran’s response and the downing of the Ukrainian airliner.
Jan 10, 2020•51 min
Jess and Jamal discuss President Trump’s executive order designed to cut off aid to colleges that tolerate anti-Semitism. However, many First Amendment advocates see it as an effort to stifle free speech and criticism of Israel. Jess and Jamal discuss the impact of this executive order on academic freedom.
Dec 13, 2019•52 min
Jamal Dajani interviews journalist and cooking show host Blanche Shaheen who has recently published her first cooking book, "Feast in the Middle East: A Personal Journey of Family and Cuisine." According to Shaheen, readers will be able to recreate street foods like chicken shawarma and crispy falafel in their own kitchens or move on to more complex dishes and delicious desserts. Shaheen also discusses her recent trip to Palestine and her connection to the land, people, culture and cuisine. Link...
Dec 06, 2019•54 min
Jess & Jamal discuss the recent indictment of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust. They also discuss US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s announcement that the Trump administration is reversing its stance on Israeli settlements in the West Bank which are considered illegal under international law, a move that was condemned by Palestinians and many countries around the world.
Nov 21, 2019•53 min
Jess & Jamal interview Dr. Rabab Abdulhadi (San Francisco State University) & Dr. Simona Sharoni (Merrimack College) about the recent Israeli attacks on Gaza, which resulted in the death of at least 24 Palestinians, including a father and his two children. They also discuss anti-Semitism, white supremacy and attacks on academic freedom.
Nov 15, 2019•53 min
Jess and Jamal discuss the recent revelations that two former employees of Twitter were charged with spying for Saudi Arabia by snooping into thousands of private accounts seeking personal information about critics of the Saudi royal family. They also discuss Representative Andy Levin’s fact-finding visit to the West Bank and his criticism of the Israeli Occupation.
Nov 08, 2019•52 min
Jess and Jamal discuss the recent vote by the US House of Representatives to endorse the Democratic-led impeachment inquiry into President Trump. The vote was 232-196 to approve a resolution that sets out rules for an impeachment process, and it was only the third time in modern history that the House had taken a vote on an impeachment inquiry into a sitting president. Jess and Jamal also discuss the two-hour raid that led to the death of ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.
Nov 01, 2019•51 min
Jess and Jamal discuss the mass protests that have challenged governments and captured attention around the world. They analyze the reasons behind the ongoing demonstrations in Lebanon, and whether the Lebanese government will be able to end decades of corruption and economic mismanagement. Jess and Jamal also talk about the fate of the Kurds in Syria after they were thrown under the bus by President Trump.
Oct 25, 2019•52 min
Jess & Jamal discuss Trump’s letter to the President of Turkey, Recep Erdogan. In it, he tries to persuade Erdogan to negotiate by lobbing insults at him — saying Erdogan could be viewed as “the devil,” and “don’t be a fool.” He also tells Erdogan that he could destroy the Turkish economy. How will Turkey react? And is the US ready to lose its strategic alliance with Turkey? Jess and Jamal also talk about the winners and losers of the Democratic Debate.
Oct 18, 2019•52 min