Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, your 20-minute audio update on what's happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world.

Diplomatic correspondent Lazar Bermanjoins host Amanda Borschel-Dan for today's episode.

A damning Wall Street Journal report depicts US President Donald Trump as making key decisions about the war in Iran in a slapdash manner without input from his advisers, stating he was eager for a ceasefire to address rising fuel prices.

As the ostensible end of the two-week ceasefire with Iran looms, Berman assesses five points of apparent failure on the part of the joint US and Israel conflict with Iran, including the focus on the Strait of Hormuz and Iran's new position there; the percentage of missiles still available to Iran; the current strength of Iran's proxies; the uptick of Iranian-linked terror abroad and the status of the Iranian nuclear program.

We then turn our gaze to the Lebanon front, where Hezbollah was granted a reprieve from the conflict with Trump's imposed ceasefire. What are Israel's concerns -- even as this could be an opportunity for direct talks between Lebanese and Israeli leadership?

Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates.

For further reading:

IDF reservist killed, nine wounded by explosive in southern Lebanon amid truce

IDF reservist killed by Hezbollah explosive in Lebanon amid truce, 3 troops hurt

Iran parliament speaker touts ‘progress’ in US talks, but Strait of Hormuz still shut

Iran reimposes Hormuz closure after US maintains blockade; IRGC gunboats fire at ships

Trump: Iran ‘got a little cute’ by blocking Hormuz again, but talks going ‘really well’

Netanyahu: ‘Road to peace’ with Lebanon begins; Trump: Israel ‘PROHIBITED’ from bombing there

Amid truce with Israel, Aoun says Lebanon to now seek ‘permanent agreements’

Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. Yitzhak Ledee filmed and edited this episode.

Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, your 20-minute audio update on what's happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world.
<a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/writers/lazar-berman/">Diplomatic correspondent Lazar Berman </a>joins <a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/writers/amanda-borschel-dan/">host Amanda Borschel-Dan</a>&nbsp;for today's episode.
A damning Wall Street Journal report depicts US President Donald Trump as making key decisions about the war in Iran in a slapdash manner without input from his advisers, stating he was eager for a ceasefire to address rising fuel prices.
As the ostensible end of the two-week ceasefire with Iran looms, Berman assesses five points of apparent failure on the part of the joint US and Israel conflict with Iran, including the focus on the Strait of Hormuz and Iran's new position there; the percentage of missiles still available to Iran; the current strength of Iran's proxies; the uptick of Iranian-linked terror abroad and the status of the Iranian nuclear program.
We then turn our gaze to the Lebanon front, where Hezbollah was granted a reprieve from the conflict with Trump's imposed ceasefire. What are Israel's concerns -- even as this could be an opportunity for direct talks between Lebanese and Israeli leadership?
<a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog-april-19-2026/">Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates.</a>
For further reading:
<a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/idf-reservist-killed-nine-wounded-by-explosive-in-southern-lebanon-amid-truce/">IDF reservist killed, nine wounded by explosive in southern Lebanon amid truce</a>
<a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/idf-reservist-killed-by-hezbollah-explosive-in-lebanon-amid-truce-3-troops-hurt/">IDF reservist killed by Hezbollah explosive in Lebanon amid truce, 3 troops hurt</a>
<a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/iran-parliament-speaker-touts-progress-in-us-talks-but-strait-of-hormuz-still-shut/">Iran parliament speaker touts &lsquo;progress&rsquo; in US talks, but Strait of Hormuz still shut</a>
<a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/iran-reimposes-strait-of-hormuz-restrictions-accuses-us-of-violating-deal-to-reopen-waterway">Iran reimposes Hormuz closure after US maintains blockade; IRGC gunboats fire at ships</a>
<a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/trump-iran-got-a-little-cute-by-blocking-hormuz-again-but-talks-going-really-well/">Trump: Iran &lsquo;got a little cute&rsquo; by blocking Hormuz again, but talks going &lsquo;really well&rsquo;</a>
<a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/netanyahu-long-road-to-peace-begins-as-trump-says-israel-prohibited-from-bombing-lebanon/">Netanyahu: &lsquo;Road to peace&rsquo; with Lebanon begins; Trump: Israel &lsquo;PROHIBITED&rsquo; from bombing there</a>
<a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/amid-truce-with-israel-aoun-says-lebanon-to-now-seek-permanent-agreements/">Amid truce with Israel, Aoun says Lebanon to now seek &lsquo;permanent agreements&rsquo;</a>
Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-times-of-israel-daily-briefing/id1547404042"> Apple Podcasts</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/1vhvFPvN0fFn5YRHCEcxrn">Spotify</a>, <a href="https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLnR6FOcOvFdMbb0w1n0Ev0orcVkufgZ89">YouTube,</a> or wherever you get your podcasts. Yitzhak Ledee filmed and edited this episode.

Welcome to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing: Your update on what’s important in Israel, the Middle East and The Jewish World.

Welcome to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing: Your update on what&rsquo;s important in Israel, the Middle East and The Jewish World.