Antisemitism has moved from the right to the left in the US — and falls back on long-standing stereotypes
An Oct. 19, 2023, rally in New York City’s Times Square demanding the freeing of hostages taken in the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas. Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images Arie Perliger, UMass Lowell The U.S. is currently experiencing one of the most significant waves of antisemitism that it has ever seen. Jewish communities are shaken and traumatized. Jewish … [Read more...] about Antisemitism has moved from the right to the left in the US — and falls back on long-standing stereotypes
GOP’s House paralysis is a crisis in a time of crises
There’s trouble under the U.S. Capitol dome. iStock / Getty Images Plus Stefanie Lindquist, Arizona State University House Republicans fired one leader, Kevin McCarthy, and have spent almost three weeks trying unsuccessfully to choose another to succeed him as speaker of the House. That’s left the U.S. House of Representatives unable to do its work, … [Read more...] about GOP’s House paralysis is a crisis in a time of crises
BANG AND BLAME (CARTOON, COLUMN AND VIDEO)
Two groups I don’t trust with information are terrorists and Republicans. I’m sorry, was that redundant? One of my friends asked for my opinion on Al Jazeera, the Qatari-owned news outlet that’s probably the most recognized and trusted outside of the Arab world. While it is state-owned, it’s managed by a private trust but it’s often accused of giving favorable coverage to … [Read more...] about BANG AND BLAME (CARTOON, COLUMN AND VIDEO)
The humanitarian crisis that is the Occupied Palestinian Territories
Hamas attacked Israel on October 7 2023. The Netanyahu government responded swiftly and indiscriminately. At least 1,400 people in Israel and 5,000 people in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT) have been killed. Most are civilians. One of my students at the University of Washington has had their (fortunately unoccupied) family home destroyed by bombs. They have also … [Read more...] about The humanitarian crisis that is the Occupied Palestinian Territories
Hezbollah alone will decide whether Lebanon – already on the brink of collapse – gets dragged into Israel-Hamas wa
Supporters of Hezbollah have been rallying in Beirut in support of Palestinians in Gaza. AP Photo/Bilal Hussein Asher Kaufman, University of Notre Dame Lebanon, which is teetering on the edge of economic and political collapse, risks becoming entangled in the escalating war between Israel and Hamas. Hezbollah has been gearing up for the … [Read more...] about Hezbollah alone will decide whether Lebanon – already on the brink of collapse – gets dragged into Israel-Hamas wa
ANTISEMITISM COMMON GROUND (CARTOON)
Quote of the Day: Andrew Sulllivan on the state of the Republican Party
Andrew Sullivan in The Weekly Dish on Substack on the state of today's Republican Party: A party wedded to ideological abstractions, emotional hissy-fits, constitutional brinkmanship and a strongman candidate is not a conservative party. It is the anti-conservative party. Objecting to everything is objecting to nothing. Gerrymandering yourself into a homogeneous, … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day: Andrew Sulllivan on the state of the Republican Party
Eighteen Years Later, Some Closure for the Family of Natalee Holloway
Eighteen-year-old Natalee Ann Holloway disappeared on the island of Aruba on May 30, 2005, and was declared dead on January 12, 2012. A plea deal reached with Dutch national Joran van der Sloot, 36, on Wednesday brings some justice to the family of young Natalee Holloway. As part of the plea deal, van der Sloot admitted to brutally killing Holloway because she refused his … [Read more...] about Eighteen Years Later, Some Closure for the Family of Natalee Holloway
America dodges bullet (for now): Jim Jordan out as GOP’s House Speaker designate losing vote by large margin
America has -- for now -- dodged a bullet. Rep. Jim Jordan, who played a role in trying to overthrow the government to install Donald Trump after Joe Biden was elected -- the quintessential ideologue and partisan to whom "compromise" is a dirty word -- has been axed by the Republican Party as its Speaker of the House designate. And he lost bigly. House Republicans, … [Read more...] about America dodges bullet (for now): Jim Jordan out as GOP’s House Speaker designate losing vote by large margin
Another ex-Trump lawyer pleads guilty in Georgia election case
Published by AFPWashington (AFP) - A second Donald Trump campaign lawyer reached a plea deal on Friday that would see him testify for the prosecution in the case alleging the former US president led a criminal conspiracy to overturn his 2020 election loss in Georgia. Kenneth Chesebro, 62, was indicted in the southern state in August along with the former president and 17 … [Read more...] about Another ex-Trump lawyer pleads guilty in Georgia election case
Does chicken soup really help when you’re sick? A nutrition specialist explains what’s behind the beloved comfort food
A bowl of chicken soup typically contains protein, vegetables and soothing broth. Westend61 via Getty Images Colby Teeman, University of Dayton Preparing a bowl of chicken soup for a loved one when they’re sick has been a common practice throughout the world for centuries. Today, generations from virtually every culture swear to the benefits of … [Read more...] about Does chicken soup really help when you’re sick? A nutrition specialist explains what’s behind the beloved comfort food
THE ARSONIST (CARTOON)
IF LINCOLN HAD BEEN TRUMP (CARTOON)
COLLEGE SUPPORT FOR HAMAS (CARTOON)
UN’s Guterres calls for Gaza ceasefire as Security Council’s humanitarian pause bid fails.
A United Nations Security Council resolution calling for “humanitarian pauses” to deliver aid to people in Gaza was blocked by a United States veto because it refused to mention Israel’s right to self-defense. It also ignored Hamas’ use of Gaza’s civilian population as human shields while perpetrating terrorist acts. The rejection on Wednesday of humanitarian pauses is … [Read more...] about UN’s Guterres calls for Gaza ceasefire as Security Council’s humanitarian pause bid fails.
There Are No “Two Sides” in Gaza
by David Anderson It was tempting to think that anti-Semitism was if not a thing of the past at least in abeyance. That said, most conspiracy theories are at base anti-Semitism: there's always the "international bankers" "pulling the levers" "controlling the media" nonsense about. All of these harken back to older anti-Semitic ideas via the long route. Hamas takes the … [Read more...] about There Are No “Two Sides” in Gaza
Demonizing the Other
How can humans be so cruel in the way they treat other humans. I am speaking specifically about the way Hamas militants massacred Israeli civilians and children in addition to soldiers in their surprise attack on southern Israel last week. Shooting babies and toddlers, women and the elderly in addition to soldiers was not enough. They had to decapitate some of the children and … [Read more...] about Demonizing the Other
Murc’s Law describes news framing that makes Democrats responsible for Republican antics, chaos and dysfunction
I am alternately flummoxed, frustrated and furious at news headlines, lead paragraphs and interviewer questions that position Democrats as responsible for Republican chaos. I began publicly railing about (or documenting, a more appealing verb) biased news framing fairly recently. For example: https://twitter.com/kegill/status/1713847073513341338 Today I learned that … [Read more...] about Murc’s Law describes news framing that makes Democrats responsible for Republican antics, chaos and dysfunction
Deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust spurs a crisis of confidence in the idea of Israel – and its possible renewal
Family and friends of those taken hostage by Hamas during an attack on Israel react during a press conference on Oct. 13, 2023, in Tel Aviv, Israel. Leon Neal/Getty Images Avner Cohen, Middlebury Institute of International Studies Living for 75 years within a hostile neighborhood has required the state of Israel to provide security against external … [Read more...] about Deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust spurs a crisis of confidence in the idea of Israel – and its possible renewal