It was time to create something new.
I left my last salaried job, as Director of Policy at J Street, in December 2024. For several months, I networked and applied for a few select roles. It became clear that finding a senior policy/advocacy job in DC — after Trump came back to town and fired a sizable chunk of the federal workforce — wasn’t working.
I couldn’t wait for someone to give me a suitable role. So I took stock of what I had to offer, including:
Considerable expertise in Middle East and US foreign policy
Intimate understanding of the situation in Israel-Palestine and the politics surrounding it
Experience lobbying Capitol Hill
Knowledge of Jewish communal dynamics from having worked in two progressive Jewish organizations
Public speaking and writing skills
Experience planning and leading panels, conferences, and popular webinars
Relationships with Members of Congress, diplomats, policy experts, academics, and activists
Passion for teaching and cultivating thoughtful, timely, and illuminating conversations
I took a leap of faith and launched this new endeavor: The Debrief with Debra Shushan. I had some fans from my years in academia and at J Street and Americans for Peace Now. I hoped they’d follow me to The Debrief and that I could win over many more fans as an independent expert, host, and author.
Debriefers, I’m so proud of what we’ve built this past year. We are a wonderful, smart community of 4,000 subscribers and growing — people who love learning and productive, respectful discussions. And we have a substantial body of work to show — an archive of fascinating conversations that feature some of the smartest people I know.
The Debrief’s podcasts are like my babies, so I’m hardly objective in thinking they’re all wonderful. That said, I want to highlight some that have been especially meaningful to me. I’ll organize them thematically.
The Debrief is developing a reputation as a destination for political figures who want to discuss Israel-Palestine and US policy — in a meaningful way that eschews sound bites and trite questions.
Just this month, we’ve had conversations with Congressman Ro Khanna (right before his trip to the West Bank), Congresswoman Becca Balint, and the leading Democratic contender in Michigan’s Senate primary, Dr. Abdul El-Sayed. I’ve also hosted Congressman Don Beyer and former Congresswoman Marie Newman.
Brad Lander, NY-10’s Democratic nominee for Congress, has joined me for two podcasts. The first preceded the NYC mayoral election; the second (below) followed the launch of his Congressional campaign. Brad is a true mensch and we had a delightful, hopeful discussion about public service and Jewish values.
Must watch:
The largest area of focus of The Debrief is Israel-Palestine, and a wealth of enlightening conversations awaits you in the podcast archive.
As Rich Goldwasser, a brilliant and dedicated activist generously put it:
I cannot recommend Debra’s Substack highly enough. Read and watch for a month and you’ll learn Israel-Palestine. And don’t forget to subscribe (paid). We need to support people who are literally pouring their blood, sweat, and tears into these endeavors. People literally pay thousands of dollars for an education like this.
The Debrief has featured podcasts with renegade former Israeli Knesset Speaker Avrum Burg; former Israeli peace negotiator Daniel Levy; Haaretz columnist Josh Leifer; and human rights activists like Sari Bashi of the Public Committee Against Torture in Israel, Tania Hary of Gisha, Rabbi Noa Sattath of the Association for Civil Rights in Israel, Nadav Weiman of Breaking the Silence, Yehuda Shaul, Avner Gvaryahu, and Becca Strober of Achvat Amim.
I’ve also had important conversations with Palestinian analysts and activists, including Rula Daood of Standing Together (currently running for Knesset), Zaha Hassan of the Carnegie Endowment, Jaser Abu Mousa of the Middle East Institute, writer and filmmaker Mo Husseini, Khalil Sayegh of the Agora Initiative, and Palestinian Co-Director of A Land for All Rula Hardal (as well as ALFA’s Israeli Co-Director May Pundak).
Must watch:
During the Iran war, The Debrief has hosted a number of analysts who have shed light on the complex regional dynamics.
They include Iran experts Trita Parsi and Arash Azizi, former State Department advisor Aaron David Miller, Gulf analyst Dania Thafer, former Jordanian diplomat Merissa Khurma, Lebanese analyst Nadim Houry, and former Deputy Head of Israel’s National Security Council Eran Etzion. Joe Cirincione and Deb Amos just joined me to discuss the US-Saudi nuclear deal (video coming soon).
I’ve also been featured on Wajahat Ali and Wajeeh Lion’s popular programs to share my analysis of the Iran quagmire.
Must watch:
A number of top analysts and former administration officials have joined The Debrief for frank conversations about US policy toward the Middle East, and Israel-Palestine in particular.
They include Foundation for Middle East Peace President Lara Friedman, a top expert on US Congress and the Middle East; former US Israel-Palestine peace negotiator and Iran Envoy Rob Malley; and former Senator Bernie Sanders advisor Matt Duss, of the Center for International Policy.
Three former State Department officials have recently shared invaluable insights o The Debrief. Josh Paul explained why provisions for unprecedented US-Israeli defense integration in the National Defense Authorization Act are extremely problematic and should not be permitted to pass into law. Former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Israeli-Palestinian Affairs Andrew Miller argued for ending exceptionalism in the US-Israel relationship. Brian Finucane explained why the US-Israeli war against Iran is illegal multiple times over.
Must watch:
During an extremely fraught time for the Jewish American community, The Debrief has provided a forum for discussing key issues, controversies, and trends.
We’ve had a number of discussions regarding Jewish communal reactions to Mayor Zohran Mamdani, including one before he was elected with Rabbi/Prof Shaul Magid. Right after the election, I spoke with Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum, the most prominent rabbi to endorse and campaign for Mamdani.
Israelis for Peace activists Gili Getz and Tamar Glezerman spoke about their protest of NYC’s Israel Day parade. Rabbis Amelia Wolf and Andy Kahn reflected on changing demographics among rabbinical school students and where next-generation American rabbis stand on Israel-Palestine.
Must watch:
The fight for democracy at home and abroad is the final major theme within The Debrief’s purview.
Podcasts have featured activists like Jess Craven, American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten, Carolina Jews for Justice’s Rabbi Sandra Lawson and Dr. Stephanie Wilson. Author Ami Fields-Meyer and I discussed his book On Courage: How to Be a Dissident in an Age of Fear.
Eric Ward shared essential insights about the antisemitic core of white nationalism and what it means for the fight for multiracial democracy.
Podcasts on Christian nationalism have featured Tim Whitaker and Ben Lorber.
Must watch:
I’m eager to continue building The Debrief — podcasts, writing, and community.
In addition, I hope to launch online courses on topics like Middle East politics, Israel-Palestine, and Zionism. These courses would meet as online groups, featuring lectures and opportunity for discussion. I’d love to gauge interest in online courses and topics — so if this piques your curiosity, I’d be delighted to hear from you.
Paid subscribers to The Debrief will receive discounts on online courses.
And that, friends, is a great segue to remind you that today is the last day for The Debrief’s birthday sale!
The birthday sale closes at 11:59pm tonight!
If you want The Debrief to go from strength to strength — if you value this work and want it to continue and grow — this is the time to show your support.
TODAY is the LAST DAY for this deal:
Only $54 for 12 months! (Less than $5/month!)
Annual paid subscriptions go up to $80 on August 1 — subscribe now and get over 30% off that price!
This is THE BEST DEAL you’ll ever get on The Debrief. Grab it now!
Monthly paid subs are $6/month
Gift subscriptions are available, too, at the same great rates!
Prices will go up on August 1:
New paid subscriptions will go up to the default prices Substack recommends for its authors: $80/year, $8/month
All current and new paid subscribers (before Aug 1) will keep their low rates:
If you’re already a subscriber, or you become one before Aug 1, you avoid the price hike! (Annual subscriptions will renew at $60/year; monthly subs at $6/month. Cancel anytime.)
I’ll join Wajeeh Lion for “Shifting Sands: How the Middle East is Getting Reshaped.” We’ll discuss latest updates on the Iran war and shifting relationships throughout the region.
Thanks for reading and for your support! I hope this post motivates you to check out episodes of The Debrief you haven’t seen yet. Peruse the podcast archive any time.
Do you have a favorite episode — something that was most meaningful to you?
What do you appreciate most about The Debrief?
I look forward to reading your comments.
Warm regards,
Debra
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