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.

US reporter Luke Tress joins host Jessica Steinberg for today's episode.

As the fourth and final report of the Columbia University antisemitism task force is released, it focuses on what happened in the college's classrooms, says Tress, addressing the discrimination against Jews and Israelis throughout the months of protests, and finding the balance between free speech and academic freedom.

Tress discusses two related situations at two California colleges, as a livestreamed class of a prominent academic and activist at Cal State showed her coaching students to oppose a state bill meant to combat antisemitism in local schools. He also mentions a legal settlement at the University of California at Berkeley regarding a visiting Israeli lecturer who sued the school after being disinvited to lecture due to her nationality.

Ahead of mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani's taking office, Tress discusses that liberal Democrat Brad Lander is running for state office with Mamdani's backing, as progressive Democrats look to Mamdani's victory.

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

For further reading:

Jewish students singled out, scapegoated: Columbia releases final antisemitism report

Cal State investigating professor seen coaching class to oppose antisemitism bill

In legal settlement, UC Berkeley acknowledges discriminating against Israeli prof

Herzog, in NYC, calls Mamdani’s rhetoric about Israel ‘outrageous,’ ‘anti-American’

Prominent NY rabbi: Mamdani understood Jewish community fissures better than we did

NYC’s Lander announces run for Congress with Mamdani’s endorsement

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

IMAGE: A pro-Israel protester outside Columbia University in Manhattan, April 22, 2024. (Luke Tress)

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/luke-tress/">US reporter Luke Tress</a>&nbsp;joins&nbsp;<a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/writers/jessica-steinberg/">host Jessica Steinberg</a>&nbsp;for today's episode.
As the fourth and final report of the Columbia University antisemitism task force is released, it focuses on what happened in the college's classrooms, says Tress, addressing the discrimination against Jews and Israelis throughout the months of protests, and finding the balance between free speech and academic freedom.
Tress discusses two related situations at two California colleges, as a livestreamed class of a prominent academic and activist at Cal State showed her coaching students to oppose a state bill meant to combat antisemitism in local schools. He also mentions a legal settlement at the University of California at Berkeley regarding a visiting Israeli lecturer who sued the school after being disinvited to lecture due to her nationality.
Ahead of mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani's taking office, Tress discusses that liberal Democrat Brad Lander is running for state office with Mamdani's backing, as progressive Democrats look to Mamdani's victory.
<a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog-december-11-2025/">Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates.</a>
For further reading:
<a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/jewish-students-singled-out-scapegoated-columbia-releases-last-antisemitism-report/">Jewish students singled out, scapegoated: Columbia releases final antisemitism report</a>
<a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/cal-state-investigating-professor-seen-coaching-class-to-oppose-antisemitism-bill/">Cal State investigating professor seen coaching class to oppose antisemitism bill</a>
<a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/uc-berkeley-acknowledges-discriminating-against-israeli-prof-in-legal-settlement/">In legal settlement, UC Berkeley acknowledges discriminating against Israeli prof</a>
<a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/herzog-in-nyc-calls-mamdanis-rhetoric-about-israel-outrageous-anti-american/">Herzog, in NYC, calls Mamdani&rsquo;s rhetoric about Israel &lsquo;outrageous,&rsquo; &lsquo;anti-American&rsquo;</a>
<a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/prominent-ny-rabbi-mamdani-understood-jewish-community-fissures-better-than-we-did/">Prominent NY rabbi: Mamdani understood Jewish community fissures better than we did</a>
<a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/nycs-lander-announces-run-for-congress-with-mamdanis-endorsement/">NYC&rsquo;s Lander announces run for Congress with Mamdani&rsquo;s endorsement</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. This episode was produced by Pod-Waves.
IMAGE: A pro-Israel protester outside Columbia University in Manhattan, April 22, 2024. (Luke Tress)

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.