Daily Briefing Aug. 24: Speed round of political inside baseball; managing monkeypox

Following the primaries, senior analyst Haviv Rettig Gur gives us the current lay of the political landscape; health reporter Nathan Jeffay on innovative back surgery and imaging

Welcome to The Times of Israel’s Daily Briefing, your 15-minute audio update on what’s happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world, from Sunday through Thursday.

Senior analyst Haviv Rettig Gur and our health reporter Nathan Jeffay join host Amanda Borschel-Dan.

Yesterday, the left-wing Meretz and far-right Religious Zionism parties held their primaries. In Meretz, it was a showdown between Zehava Galon and Yair Golan. What was the final shakeout there? Were there any changes for Religious Zionism?

Former prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu again called for a merger between Religious Zionism and the even-farther-right Otzma Yehudit party. Why is he so eager?

Rettig Gur describes the lay of the political land by speaking about what’s new in Labor and Likud list shake-ups.

Jeffay explains Israel’s tactics in fighting the spread of monkeypox, as well as how Israel can be uniquely effective.

Rambam Health Care Campus in Haifa is the first Israeli hospital to introduce back operations via a small incision in the waist versus opening up the back. We hear why this is such an important step.

And finally, Israeli thermal imaging technology designed to track terrorists and defend borders is getting a new incarnation — helping doctors get a clearer view of what is happening in patients’ bodies.