"This is the first season of the podcast where we are covering a conflict on a daily basis. It’s a chance to dive into the daily developments in a way only CNN can."

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🎤 CNN Audio Takes Listeners on the Ground in New Podcast - Tug of War: Israel at War

CNN Audio's new podcast, Tug of War: Israel at War

CNN Audio launched a brand-new season of its Tug of War podcast series, Israel at War, featuring daily updates from CNN’s world-class reporters on the ground in Israel to document the escalating conflict and what it means for the rest of the world, including CNN’s Chief International Correspondent Clarissa Ward, International Diplomatic Editor Nic Robertson, International Anchor and Managing Editor of CNN Abu Dhabi, Becky Anderson, and many more.

We sat down with the podcast’s host, David Rind, to learn about what the show brings to listeners and how he grapples with covering such brutal stories.

Tell us about the latest season of Tug of War: Israel at War.
David Rind: This is the first season of the podcast where we are covering a conflict on a daily basis. It’s a chance to dive into the daily developments in a way only CNN can. Every weekday, we talk to one of our correspondents and reporters on the ground in Israel about what they are seeing and hearing. Because this story is so complex and nuanced, we bring our teams’ insights to the listeners to help them make sense of what’s really going on.

David Rind and Nic Robertson record an episode of Tug of War: Israel at War

What types of stories are you focusing on telling from the ground?
David Rind: We are really focused on stories that help humanize the larger story. We can’t forget about the real people in Israel and Gaza who are being affected every day, and our teams are doing a great job of elevating their voices. We also want to help explain the context and history behind the events of the past few weeks, realizing that not every listener is familiar with some of the groups and places at play.

What can audiences get from listening to this story versus watching it?

David Rind: Audio brings a sense of intimacy that serves this story really well. For example, you are able to hear the pain in a mother’s voice as she describes waiting for news about her son who was taken hostage. You can also hear the frustration in the voice of a 13-year-old girl in Gaza, who is trying to survive among constant airstrikes. We also have a bit more time to tell these individual stories than in a typical television live shot.

David Rind, host of CNN Audio's new podcast Tug of War: Israel at War

Tell us a little about yourself and your background.
David Rind: I have been at CNN since 2021 and have worked in podcasting and audio for over a decade. I’m really passionate about taking great reporting (whether it be written or visual) and making compelling audio out of it. Before I really got into news, I thought I would be sports broadcaster – I even spent a season calling games on the radio for a New York Mets minor league affiliate after graduating from college.

What do you do to disconnect when covering such heavy stories?
David Rind: When I need to disconnect from covering heavy stories, I go to the movies. Even if the movie has serious themes, there’s nothing better than immersing yourself into a totally different world and getting lost in it for a few hours. My wife and I have also really gotten into birdwatching recently (don’t knock it ‘till you try it!).

Tug of War: Israel at War is available to stream now at CNN.com/audio or wherever you get your podcasts.

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