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.

News editor Ben Sales joins host Jessica Steinberg for today's episode.

After Israelis ranked political violence as one of their top fears in a recent poll, Sales reports on the current state of political polarization in the country, ahead of the upcoming election.

Sales discusses the enduring legacy left by the Sbarro terrorist bombing that took place 25 years ago, and how perceptions have changed regarding that trauma following the October 7 Hamas terrorist attack.

After moderate Democrat David Crowley beat liberal candidate Francesca Hong in the recent primaries for the Wisconsin governor's seat, Sales reviews the current election cycle, noting the win for staunchly left-wing Democrat Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan and whether these progressive ideas will take hold on the national stage in November.

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

For further reading:

Israelis are alarmed over the threat of political violence. Can it be averted?

25 years ago, the Sbarro bombing opened a wound in Israel that still hasn’t healed

Abdul El-Sayed’s Michigan primary win is a watershed moment for anti-Israel Democrats

Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by Ari Schlacht.

News editor Ben Sales appears on the Daily Briefing with host Jessica Steinberg on August 13, 2026 (Flash 90)