Daily Briefing Aug. 13: As election nears, can voters see extremism in their own camps?

In the latest Daily Briefing podcast, news editor Ben Sales discusses political polarization in Israel ahead of the upcoming election, following a poll showing Israelis rank political violence as a top fear. The episode also covers the 25th anniversary of the Sbarro bombing and its changed perception after October 7, and reviews the US election cycle, including David Crowley's win in Wisconsin and Abdul El-Sayed's Michigan primary victory.

In the August 13, 2026 episode of The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing podcast, news editor Ben Sales joins host Jessica Steinberg to discuss the state of political polarization in Israel ahead of the upcoming election. The discussion follows a recent poll in which Israelis ranked political violence as one of their top fears. Sales reports on the extent of polarization and whether voters can recognize extremism within their own camps. The episode also marks the 25th anniversary of the Sbarro terrorist bombing in Jerusalem, reflecting on how perceptions of that trauma have changed following the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack. Additionally, Sales reviews the current US election cycle, noting moderate Democrat David Crowley's victory over liberal candidate Francesca Hong in the Wisconsin governor's primary, and the win of progressive, anti-Israel Democrat Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan, questioning whether his ideas will gain traction nationally in November. The episode is produced by Ari Schlacht.