podcast
Tug of War
CNN reporters take us on-the-ground in Israel to document the escalating conflict and what it means for the rest of the world.
As the war in Gaza continues, independent media outlets remain barred from entering the enclave without IDF escort, complicating efforts to paint a full picture of the reality on the ground. In this episode, CNN’s Nada Bashir explains how she and her colleagues have been covering the war from afar and the role brave Palestinian journalists on the ground play in that work.
Recorded live at the Cascade PBS Ideas Festival on May 4, 2024.
May 17, 2024
Note: this episode contains graphic descriptions of injury.
As the Israeli military campaign in Gaza continues, the toll on Palestinian women and children is coming into clearer focus. In this episode, CNN's Jomana Karadsheh and Sarah Sirgany tell us about their trip to a special hospital in Qatar where some of the most vulnerable Palestinians are being treated for war wounds.
May 15, 2024
US President Joe Biden says Biden says he will stop sending bombs and artillery shells to Israel if it launches a major invasion of Rafah. It comes as his administration is set to deliver a report to Congress on whether Israel has violated international humanitarian law during its war in Gaza. In this episode, CNN's Kylie Atwood explains how this moment could be a turning point for US-Israel relations.
May 10, 2024
On Tuesday, Israel's military seized the Palestinian side of the Rafah crossing, warning its military operation in the southern city would move forward, even as ceasefire talks continue. Airstrikes have rocked eastern Rafah, displacing many fearful Palestinians yet again. Israel meanwhile says the terms of a ceasefire proposal accepted by Hamas were "far from" meeting its demands. In this episode, CNN's Jeremy Diamond explains how the military pressure is impacting the ongoing talks.
May 8, 2024
Around the world, some students have staged protests in solidarity with pro-Palestinian protestors on US college campuses – including in Iran. Anger against Israel and the US is still simmering after an unprecedented aerial attack from Iran on Israel was foiled. In this episode, CNN's Fred Pleitgen joins us from Tehran and explains how Iranian military officials are evaluating the latest escalation.
May 3, 2024
Hamas is considering a new framework for a hostage release and ceasefire proposal put forward by Egypt. It comes amid fears that Israel will launch a ground offensive into Rafah whether or not a deal is reached. In this episode, CNN's Becky Anderson tells us about the parameters and examines a longshot push to normalize relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel.
May 1, 2024
On Wednesday, Hamas released a video of Israeli-American hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin, giving his family hope that he is still alive despite being badly wounded when he was abducted on October 7th. However, Israel’s government says at least 129 hostages remain in Gaza with dozens of those feared dead. In this episode, CNN's Jeremy Diamond examines why Hamas released this video now and looks at the state of negotiations over a hostage release and ceasefire.
Apr 26, 2024
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other senior Israeli ministers have lashed out against reported plans by the United States to sanction an Israeli military unit for alleged human rights abuses against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank. The uproar comes amidst an uptick in violence against Palestinians in the territory. In this episode, CNN's Nada Bashir examines why the reported plans have struck a nerve and gives us an update on the dire situation inside Gaza.
Apr 24, 2024
A US official tells CNN that Israel carried out a military strike inside Iran on Thursday night, the latest dangerous escalation between the two countries. Israel has not commented and Iran has not yet identified the source of the attack. In this episode, CNN's Jeremy Diamond examines what we know and whether this latest round of back-and-forth is over.
Apr 19, 2024
While Iran’s air attack on Israel over the weekend was uniquely brazen, experts say the two nations have been engaged in a ‘shadow war’ through proxies and covert actions for decades. In this episode, CNN's Nic Robertson looks at what two past Israeli attacks can tell us about how they may respond in this case.
Apr 18, 2024