Josh Paul is a former U.S. State Department official who resigned in 2023 in protest of the Biden administration’s decision to dramatically expand military assistance to Israel at the start of the Gaza war. After spending more than a decade working on arms transfers, security assistance, and defense diplomacy, he has become one of the most prominent voices calling for a reassessment of U.S. policy toward Israel and Palestine.

In today’s episode, Josh joins me to discuss what led to his resignation, what he witnessed from inside the U.S. government, and why he believes the current debate over Israel and Palestine is fundamentally a political problem rather than a policy problem.

Josh explains the mission behind A New Policy, the advocacy organization he co-founded. He also shares details about proposed provisions within the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and the Intelligence Authorization Act, and discusses how they could impact U.S.-Israel integration.

We also talk about growing public opposition to unconditional military aid, shifting political dynamics in Washington, tensions between U.S. and Israeli interests regarding Iran, the expansion of executive power, and the impact of Israel-Palestine policy on civil liberties and free speech in America.

Join us as we explore the future of U.S.-Israel relations, congressional efforts to deepen military cooperation, the political forces driving American foreign policy, what these legislative proposals mean for the public, and how citizens can engage in the democratic process to influence policy decisions.