Daily Briefing Oct. 18: With election days away, polls still can’t predict a winner

The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing podcast for October 18 covers the upcoming Israeli election, with news editor Ben Sales explaining that final polls cannot predict a winner due to smaller parties near the electoral threshold. The episode also discusses tensions in New York City, where Mayor Mamdani's base calls for Police Commissioner Tisch's firing after a Bronx shooting by ICE agents.

The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing podcast for October 18, 2026, hosted by culture editor Jessica Steinberg, features news editor Ben Sales discussing the upcoming Israeli election on October 27. Sales notes that final polls cannot accurately predict a winner, primarily because several smaller parties on both sides of the political spectrum are hovering around the 3.25% electoral threshold, making the outcome uncertain. The episode also covers rising tensions in New York City, where members of Mayor Zohran Mamdani's political base are calling for Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch to be fired. This follows clashes between police and protesters after ICE agents shot a man in the Bronx. While the shooting and NYPD response are not directly related to Israel or antisemitism, the protest against Tisch is tied to her role as a pro-Israel presence in City Hall and the implications of her potentially losing her job. The article promotes the podcast and includes a call for reader support.