December 6, 2022

New Books Network Podcast: The Heresy of Jacob Frank

Dr. Michaelson talks with Professor Schneur Zalman Newfield about "The Heresy of Jacob Frank: From Jewish Messianism to Esoteric Myth."

November 23, 2022

Evolve Podcast: Why an 18th Century Opponent of Rabbinic Authority Matters Today

Jay Michaelson spent 20 years researching Jacob Frank for his new book, "The Heresy of Jacob Frank: From Jewish Messianism to Esoteric Myth." Here he joins the Evolve Podcast from Reconstructing Judaism and explains why Frank’s radical philosophy may have been a precursor to how many non-Orthodox Jews relate to tradition today.

October 3, 2022

The Queernesses of Jewish Heresy

From the 17th to 19th centuries, European Judaism witnessed an eruption of ecstasy and eros in a series of heretical and quasi-heretical movements, beginning with the failed messiahs Sabbetai Zevi (1626-76) and Jacob Frank (1726-1791), and continuing through the ‘domestication’ of Sabbateanism by the Hasidism of the Baal Shem Tov (1698-1760) and his followers.  These movements offered intensified spiritual experiences, complete with sublimated and non-sublimated erotic expression.  They were also, in various ways, queer, including the ambiguously gendered Sabbetai, the liberation of sexuality as harbinger of the messianic age, the leadership and power of women in Sabbatean and Frankist communities, the female messiah in Frank’s imaginaire, and sexualized worship and homoerotic/homosocial bonds among the Hasidim.

June 13, 2022

Identity / Crisis Podcast: Jews, Gun Violence, and the Second Amendment

On the Identity/Crisis podcast, Jay Michaelson joins Yehuda Kurtzer to discuss gun control, the Second Amendment, and what it means to be part of a political culture that cannot keep its citizens safe.

December 11, 2021

State of Belief Podcast: Jay and Rev. Welton Gaddy on partisanship in the Supreme Court

Jay joins Rev. Welton Gaddy to discuss two Supreme Court cases -- Carson v. Makin, and Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization -- and what their possible decisions hold for the future.

October 15, 2020

MSNBC: ‘Dark money’ and the high court

Jay Michaelson joins MSNBC's Katy Tur to discuss the influence of the Federalist Society and the Judicial Crisis Network on the judiciary.

July 1, 2020

The Forbidden Apple Podcast: God vs. Gay

Jay Michaelson joins Pelayo Alvarez and Melissa Weisz to discuss the future of spirituality and to provide actionable tools on being mindful and present during the pandemic.

June 20, 2020

State of Belief Podcast: Jay and Rev. Welton Gaddy on “Bostock v. Clayton County”

Rev. Welton Gaddy, host of State of Belief, is joined once again by Dr. Jay Michaelson, a Rabbi, meditation teacher, attorney, activist, and author who covers the US Supreme Court for the Daily Beast. We dive into the Supreme Court case on workplace protections for LGBTQ people and what it means.

October 29, 2018

Does Donald Trump Bear Responsibility for Pittsburgh?

CNN's Out Front, with Jake Tapper, discusses the aftermath of the Pittsburgh massacre.

October 11, 2018

What will Brett Kavanaugh’s SCOTUS confirmation mean for the environment?

Jay Michaelson talks with WBAI's TrumpWatch program about Justice Brett Kavanaugh and the environment.

May 14, 2018

Understanding the Gaza-Israel Border Violence

Palestinian leaders called for a "day of rage" over Trump's new embassy in Jerusalem. Jay Michaelson reports on the violent protests happening at the Gaza border.

April 9, 2018

Fusion.net: Religious Freedom Legislation Is Really Anti LGBT

Jay Michaelson and Saeed Jones talk to Fusion.net about the real motivations behind "religious freedom" laws.

April 5, 2018

Is EPA Chief Scott Pruitt “Too Corrupt to Fire”? | MSNBC

Jay Michaelson joins MSNBC's Katy Tur to discuss the scandals plaguing the EPA administrator.

March 17, 2018

Prosecutorial Misconduct: The Hidden Driver of Mass Incarceration

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 8:34 — 5.9MB)

October 18, 2017

Xenophobia and Antisemitism in the Age of Donald Trump | SUNY New Paltz

Dr. Michaelson reviews the data on increased xenophobia in the Trump era, and calls for a richer understanding of antisemitism and its relationship to nationalist populism.  [Click here to watch]

June 26, 2017

SCOTUS Puts Travel Ban on Life Support | MSNBC

Jay Michaelson discusses the Trump travel ban on the Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell [Click here to watch]

May 12, 2017

Retreat or Resist? Dharma Practice in the Age of Trump

This talk was given by Rabbi Dr. Jay Michaelson on May 2, 2017, at the Mindful Reflection Community of Unity Temple in Oak Park, Chicago.

May 7, 2017

Religious Liberty and LGBT Equality at the Supreme Court | NPR

Jay is interviewed on public radio's State of Belief show.

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February 8, 2017

Religious Liberty, Civil Rights, And Public Policy | Pitt Law School

Dr. Jay Michaelson and Prof. Ira Karoll debate liberal vs. conservative understandings of religious liberty.

July 26, 2016

Religion and the Democrats | State of Belief

Live from the Democratic National Convention, July 2016

July 19, 2016

Warren for VP? | CNN

Should Hillary Clinton choose Elizabeth Warren as her running mate?

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April 3, 2016

The Supreme Court Nomination of Judge Merrick Garland |Charlie Rose Show

A discussion about President Obama’s nomination of Merrick Garland the Supreme Court. Charlie is joined by Jan Crawford of CBS News, Adam Liptak of the New York Times, and Jay Michaelson of The Daily Beast [click here to watch].

October 16, 2015

Newsmax Now: How social media has impacted the Israel-Palestine conflict

The contributing editor at The Daily Beast and author of "Evolving Dharma" and "God vs. Gay?" discusses how social media has impacted the Israel-Palestine conflict.

August 13, 2015

The Prosecutor Problem | The Daily Beast Podcast

Daily Beast reporter Jay Michaelson digs into the problem of prosecutorial misconduct across the country and some of the reforms needed to repair the judicial system.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 8:34 — 2.0MB)

July 2, 2015

The Religious Divide Over Same-Sex Marriage | NPR Interfaith Voices

Will the landmark decision to legalize gay marriage nationwide spark a showdown between gay rights and religious freedom? A Rabbi Jay Michaelson and a conservative Christian weigh in.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 52:30 — 12.0MB)

April 26, 2015

Religious Freedom and LGBT Rights | HuffPost Religion

Jay Michaelson is among the guests speaking about the continuing battle around the American protection and definition of religious liberty.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 32:50 — 15.0MB)

April 2, 2015

What’s Changed Since The First Religious Liberty Law Was Passed In 1993?

Jay participates in a National Public Radio piece on the Religious Freedom Restoration Act.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 4:41 — 2.1MB)

March 24, 2015

Prayer Breakfast Dispute: Christianity and the Crusades | Meet the Press

Dr. Michaelson's work discussed in conversation with Random House editor Jon Meacham on President Obama's speech.

Watch here.

March 24, 2015

Marriage Equality and the National Prayer Breakfast | State of Belief

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March 24, 2015

Gays Under Attack Over Ebola | MSNBC

The underreported story you wanted to hear more about. We talk to Jay Michaelson of The Daily Beast about a disturbing development in Liberia where some are blaming the Ebola outbreak on the LGBT community.