Mehdi and Prem break down the new Iran blockade, Trump’s blasphemous post, and respond to a provocative audience question about whether anti-war voters should support Tucker Carlson for president (!)
Kushner is a repulsive piece of human garbage and an israel first baseman. He was there during the negotiations to make sure no deal is reached as directed by his boss satanyahu.
I have a concern similar to one expressed on the chat earlier today about which candidates we can support when so many Democrats are compromised by their unconditional support for Israel — all the way through a genocide.
I thought the questioner was being sarcastic when he asked whether he should vote instead for Tucker Carlson. However, because of that framing, the conversation proceeded in a direction I thought was mostly unhelpful, with the emphasis being on rejecting single issue voting — opposition to the Gaza genocide. That focus was unhelpful to the thousands if not millions of us who support and have always supported progressive causes: civil rights; bargaining rights and fair wages; environmental protection; reproductive rights; affordable healthcare; abolition of ICE; opposition to illegal and unjust wars.
We have been loyal to these and related causes all our voting lives. Now, we would like support in kind for an issue which in my mind is the moral test of our time: opposition to a genocide and a corresponding opposition to politicians who have supported it. (If you vote for these candidates, you’re voting for genocide, whether or not that is your intention). I think we should be honest about this. Some people, and I know quite a few — all Democrats — don’t really care about the issue. (I heard one Democratic podcaster refer to it as a “distraction.). I get that — we’re not all the same. What I don’t understand is why those Democrats can’t look at the issue as a matter of strategy and join the millions of us who do care about it by prioritizing it (along with, e.g., reproductive rights). If we did that, we could form a winning coalition. We need you — you need us.
In the past, progressive voters were expected to compromise our own values and vote blue no matter who. Now I think it’s fair for the right wing of the party, the Schumers and the Jeffries, and yes, the Nancy Pelosis and their supporters, to do some of that compromising they’ve expected progressives to do in the past. I cant believe that they’re so invested in genocide or support for Israel that they wont join us for a change, rather than expecting us to abandon our principles to join them.
Mehdi’s response in the chat eluded the reality that the Democratic Party as an institution is still very much invested in support for Israel. (Witness the recent action of the DNC in its refusal to pass a proposed resolution criticizing Israel and the genocide). Medhi’s invocation of Ro Khanna’s name is an illustration of how compromised most Democratic politicians are on the issue just by virtue of being Democrats. Khanna voted with House Republicans to send Israel another $3.3 billion in weapons as recently as last January. He has expressed support for Netanyahu sycophant Cory Booker for the Democratic leadership position in the Senate. He said on Substack that opposition to Israel was not a viable position for a Democratic presidential candidate. On the other hand, he has criticized AIPAC and opposes the war. He earned a “C” rating on his votes regarding Israel/Palestine from the U.S. Campaign for Palestinian Rights Action. Most Democrats in the House earned “F’s”. Khanna’s schizophrenia on the issue is an example of how the morals of Democratic politicians regarding genocide are compromised just by being Democrats. Of course, this doesn’t have to be true. Chris Van Hollen, Rashida Tlaib, Ilhan Omar, Mayor Mamdani and many Democratic primary candidates seem to be able to hold onto their principles on the issue and still get elected.
I think a better answer to the question on the chat is to encourage questioner (and the rest of us) to research primary candidates’ positions on Israel and Palestine. Support the ones who refuse money from the Israeli lobby. Vote against those who take it. Both Justice Democrats and A New Policy are supporting anti genocide candidates and we can get their names and biographies from those organizations.
As another podcaster once said, if you can’t trust a candidate to oppose a genocide, you can’t really trust him or her on anything. Eric Swalwell is an example. He earned an “F” rating from Palestinian Rights Action and has now been credibly charged with sexual assault against multiple women. I knew his record of unconditionally supporting Israel and I’m not a Californian. Yet, Swalwell appeared poised to win the Democratic nomination for governor. As another example, Cory Booker, staunch Netanyahu supporter, has voted with the Republicans on several of their bills, including the “Genius Act”, which would have enabled domination of unregulated cryptocurrencies in our financial markets. He also voted with Republicans to confirm convicted felon Charles Kirschner (pardoned by Trump) as ambassador to France.
There is a real danger that if the Democrats don’t take the issues of genocide and illegal war seriously, they will lose the presidency again in 2028. It’s really up to the voters. We need to do two things: become better informed about candidates’ voting records — as opposed to just their rhetoric (e.g., Khanna) — and vote as if a genocide meant something. Otherwise, there will be a split in the party — as there should be.
I will not vote for any Democratic candidate that supports Israel. Even before 10/7/2023, being an Israel supporter was a real turn off for me. I voted for a 3rd Party candidate in 2024.
Finally someone is willing to say the quiet part out loud In an interview(https://bit.ly/41rrNPb )with Greg Sargent over at the New Republic political theorist Alan Elrod makes the point that an electorate that votes an immoral cretin like Cheeto twice into office has something seriously wrong with it
As Elrod points out, "No morally healthy country would put this man in power twice," adding, "We have become a morally insane, civically disordered, and self-regardingly decadent country."
Yes, it’s hard to be introspective Hungary found this out with Orban and shows that democratic countries can right themselves Interviews with on the street Hungarians several months ago in one MSNOW segment showed the resolve to right the ship of state after having been oppressed for 16y In those interviews those interviewed spoke to Americans directly saying, “don’t make the same mistake we made”
But yet here we are Some of the electorate believed absent mindedly all the Cheeto campaign lies but there is always another day and come November it’ll be a new dawn and a new day
Linda, I appreciate that you often sign off comments with “Please subscribe to Zeteo.” So often I feel helpless against rising fascism, but figure that supporting independent media is something I can do. I concur that subscribing to Zeteo (and progressive Substacks) is a positive contribution for saving our democracy.
Trump may only be unique because, in fact, USA's system allows him to continue....it is clearly deeply flawed, and seems incapable of dealing with true nutters and anti-democrats to deal while other countries e.g. Argentina, Hungary... in the world appear to have workable guard rails at election times (at least).....The Suoreme Court is a curious , politically driven assembly. That said, it is extraordinary, dispiriting, that Trump got a second term when he was (to so many of us)racist, cruel, corrupt and amoral. As if the US democratic system has not succeeded in teaching voters about democratic and pluralist principles...USA seems as dynastic as any monarchical system. Is there some urgency/a plan to alter the electoral system.....and to offer viable choices beyond the two horse race....and of course donor power?? (from a Scottish-Frenchwoman in France)
Free World from Zio Pedo Nazi Satanic regime of Israel and UAE.
Kushner is a repulsive piece of human garbage and an israel first baseman. He was there during the negotiations to make sure no deal is reached as directed by his boss satanyahu.
Absolutely!
I have a concern similar to one expressed on the chat earlier today about which candidates we can support when so many Democrats are compromised by their unconditional support for Israel — all the way through a genocide.
I thought the questioner was being sarcastic when he asked whether he should vote instead for Tucker Carlson. However, because of that framing, the conversation proceeded in a direction I thought was mostly unhelpful, with the emphasis being on rejecting single issue voting — opposition to the Gaza genocide. That focus was unhelpful to the thousands if not millions of us who support and have always supported progressive causes: civil rights; bargaining rights and fair wages; environmental protection; reproductive rights; affordable healthcare; abolition of ICE; opposition to illegal and unjust wars.
We have been loyal to these and related causes all our voting lives. Now, we would like support in kind for an issue which in my mind is the moral test of our time: opposition to a genocide and a corresponding opposition to politicians who have supported it. (If you vote for these candidates, you’re voting for genocide, whether or not that is your intention). I think we should be honest about this. Some people, and I know quite a few — all Democrats — don’t really care about the issue. (I heard one Democratic podcaster refer to it as a “distraction.). I get that — we’re not all the same. What I don’t understand is why those Democrats can’t look at the issue as a matter of strategy and join the millions of us who do care about it by prioritizing it (along with, e.g., reproductive rights). If we did that, we could form a winning coalition. We need you — you need us.
In the past, progressive voters were expected to compromise our own values and vote blue no matter who. Now I think it’s fair for the right wing of the party, the Schumers and the Jeffries, and yes, the Nancy Pelosis and their supporters, to do some of that compromising they’ve expected progressives to do in the past. I cant believe that they’re so invested in genocide or support for Israel that they wont join us for a change, rather than expecting us to abandon our principles to join them.
Mehdi’s response in the chat eluded the reality that the Democratic Party as an institution is still very much invested in support for Israel. (Witness the recent action of the DNC in its refusal to pass a proposed resolution criticizing Israel and the genocide). Medhi’s invocation of Ro Khanna’s name is an illustration of how compromised most Democratic politicians are on the issue just by virtue of being Democrats. Khanna voted with House Republicans to send Israel another $3.3 billion in weapons as recently as last January. He has expressed support for Netanyahu sycophant Cory Booker for the Democratic leadership position in the Senate. He said on Substack that opposition to Israel was not a viable position for a Democratic presidential candidate. On the other hand, he has criticized AIPAC and opposes the war. He earned a “C” rating on his votes regarding Israel/Palestine from the U.S. Campaign for Palestinian Rights Action. Most Democrats in the House earned “F’s”. Khanna’s schizophrenia on the issue is an example of how the morals of Democratic politicians regarding genocide are compromised just by being Democrats. Of course, this doesn’t have to be true. Chris Van Hollen, Rashida Tlaib, Ilhan Omar, Mayor Mamdani and many Democratic primary candidates seem to be able to hold onto their principles on the issue and still get elected.
I think a better answer to the question on the chat is to encourage questioner (and the rest of us) to research primary candidates’ positions on Israel and Palestine. Support the ones who refuse money from the Israeli lobby. Vote against those who take it. Both Justice Democrats and A New Policy are supporting anti genocide candidates and we can get their names and biographies from those organizations.
As another podcaster once said, if you can’t trust a candidate to oppose a genocide, you can’t really trust him or her on anything. Eric Swalwell is an example. He earned an “F” rating from Palestinian Rights Action and has now been credibly charged with sexual assault against multiple women. I knew his record of unconditionally supporting Israel and I’m not a Californian. Yet, Swalwell appeared poised to win the Democratic nomination for governor. As another example, Cory Booker, staunch Netanyahu supporter, has voted with the Republicans on several of their bills, including the “Genius Act”, which would have enabled domination of unregulated cryptocurrencies in our financial markets. He also voted with Republicans to confirm convicted felon Charles Kirschner (pardoned by Trump) as ambassador to France.
There is a real danger that if the Democrats don’t take the issues of genocide and illegal war seriously, they will lose the presidency again in 2028. It’s really up to the voters. We need to do two things: become better informed about candidates’ voting records — as opposed to just their rhetoric (e.g., Khanna) — and vote as if a genocide meant something. Otherwise, there will be a split in the party — as there should be.
I will not vote for any Democratic candidate that supports Israel. Even before 10/7/2023, being an Israel supporter was a real turn off for me. I voted for a 3rd Party candidate in 2024.
let u stop paying taxes for pentagon till they follow the law, and get permission from congress
What’s Wrong With The American Electorate?
Finally someone is willing to say the quiet part out loud In an interview(https://bit.ly/41rrNPb )with Greg Sargent over at the New Republic political theorist Alan Elrod makes the point that an electorate that votes an immoral cretin like Cheeto twice into office has something seriously wrong with it
As Elrod points out, "No morally healthy country would put this man in power twice," adding, "We have become a morally insane, civically disordered, and self-regardingly decadent country."
Yes, it’s hard to be introspective Hungary found this out with Orban and shows that democratic countries can right themselves Interviews with on the street Hungarians several months ago in one MSNOW segment showed the resolve to right the ship of state after having been oppressed for 16y In those interviews those interviewed spoke to Americans directly saying, “don’t make the same mistake we made”
But yet here we are Some of the electorate believed absent mindedly all the Cheeto campaign lies but there is always another day and come November it’ll be a new dawn and a new day
Pope Leo handled the remarks made by our President with compassion and humility and respect. Please subscribe to ZETEO.
Linda, I appreciate that you often sign off comments with “Please subscribe to Zeteo.” So often I feel helpless against rising fascism, but figure that supporting independent media is something I can do. I concur that subscribing to Zeteo (and progressive Substacks) is a positive contribution for saving our democracy.
Trump may only be unique because, in fact, USA's system allows him to continue....it is clearly deeply flawed, and seems incapable of dealing with true nutters and anti-democrats to deal while other countries e.g. Argentina, Hungary... in the world appear to have workable guard rails at election times (at least).....The Suoreme Court is a curious , politically driven assembly. That said, it is extraordinary, dispiriting, that Trump got a second term when he was (to so many of us)racist, cruel, corrupt and amoral. As if the US democratic system has not succeeded in teaching voters about democratic and pluralist principles...USA seems as dynastic as any monarchical system. Is there some urgency/a plan to alter the electoral system.....and to offer viable choices beyond the two horse race....and of course donor power?? (from a Scottish-Frenchwoman in France)
Substack
SF Bay Area.
Detroit, Michigan
Ok Prem all your last words mirror my own deep frustrations about shameful Trump!
Northern Virginia
Fort Lauderdale FL
Beth, Pittsboro, NC
Paul Horvitz: AT THE RUBICON
"Time to Touch Up Obama's Deal and Call it Trump's"
WORTH A READ: https://substack.com/home/post/p-194116381
SOUTHFIELD, MICHIGAN