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August 24, 2025
Key Developments and What We're Discussing Today:
- Today, August 24, marks 688 days since October 7, 2023. The Hamas-led attack on Simchat Torah resulted in 1,182 fatalities (including 44 Americans) and over 4,000 wounded. 251 hostages (210 alive, 41 dead bodies) were taken during a day of brutal savagery and sexual violence. It was the largest single massacre of Jews since the Holocaust, with more than one in every 10,000 Israelis killed, and the third overall deadliest terrorist attack in the world to date.
- The 50 remaining hostages, 27 known to be dead, 20 thought to be alive, and three of unknown status, include the bodies of two Americans: Omer Neutra and Itay Chen. It is beyond outrageous that after all this time, they are still enduring torture and starvation in tunnels with no outside contact. It is beyond outrageous that no hostages have been released since June. Releasing the hostages is clearly not a priority for Trump and Netanyahu, but it's a top priority for us.
- Trump's assault on truth, science, and education and his obsession with immigration are attacks on what made America a great country.
- Netanyahu said that the war in Gaza will not end if Hamas agrees to a ceasefire and returns the hostages. Nothing tried so far has succeeded in convincing Netanyahu to focus on stopping the war, getting the hostages out, and giving up his plans to annex the West Bank. That's why pro-Israel voices are on both sides of the debate about supplying Israel with arms to continue the war in Gaza.
- Politics with Dana and Steve is co-hosting an event on September 18 in Chicago with Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss, the leading (and my favorite) candidate in the Illinois 9th congressional district Democratic primary. See below for details.
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Greetings!
Stupid white hippies and crazy communists. No, that's not a description of this newsletter's audience. That's how White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller described DC residents protesting Trump's unprecedented deployment of troops in DC, ostensibly to fight crime but actually to intimidate law-abiding citizens and to normalize similar authoritarian displays of force elsewhere in the country.
Trump is undermining two core foundations of America's greatness.
The first is through his assault on truth, science, and education. He is pressuring museums to suppress history. He is attacking universities. The common thread in Trump's efforts to produce jobs reports that are politically convenient and RFK Jr.'s rejection of vaccine science is that while once we were a nation that allowed the best minds to thrive and welcomed accurate reporting and scientific advances, we are becoming a nation that rejects or prohibits facts that are not "politically correct." As a result, we will lose the infrastructure that allowed America to lead the world in science and innovation.
The second is immigration. America became great because its people were great. America was a magnet for everyone in the world who wanted to risk leaving their homes and come to a country with a different language and different customs in the hope of building better lives for themselves and their families. We want those people. They are willing to take risks and work hard. . If all I know about someone is that they are a first- or second-generation immigrant, I'll take them any day over someone whose only background information known to me is that they are a Daughter of the American Revolution.
Republicans claim to support competition and free enterprise. Not long ago, to their credit, they supported immigration. Today's Republicans, perhaps recognizing their incompetence and unmerited and unearned privilege, have forgotten that competition and free enterprise mean winners and losers. They fear immigration because they might have to work hard and compete.
As former U.S. Senator Tom Harkin said, everyone wants to climb the ladder of success. The difference between Democrats and Republicans is that Democrats leave the ladder down for the next person. Republicans pull up the ladder behind them.
What are they afraid of?
The war in Gaza will not end if Hamas agrees to a ceasefire and releases the hostages. Says who? Says Benjamin Netanyahu. Either you agree with Netanyahu's policies in Gaza and the West Bank or you don't. If you do, then you can let events run their course. Israel will annex the West Bank, Israel will continue the killing in Gaza, and Israel will have a future, but not as a democracy. If you think younger Americans and younger Jews are alienated now, you ain't seen nothing yet.
If you disagree with Netanyahu, you have several options. You can sign strongly worded letters. You can financially support Israeli parties and organizations that share our values. The problem is that the crisis is immediate. We need Netanyahu to listen now. Thus far, nothing coming out of the United States is dissuading him.
That puts those of us who love Israel and who abhor Netanyahu's policies in a bind. Speaking only for myself, I find it hard to reconcile my opposition to Netanyahu's policies with my visceral opposition to anything that seems like pressure on Israel or using arms sales as leverage against Israel, even if I understand the logic and the urgency.
Even today, when I read a candidate's position paper, I feel good about candidates who write papers that could have been written 10 or 20 years ago. I want Israel to be treated as if it were led by the leaders who once led it, not the leaders who lead it today. I get nervous when I read papers that are logical but don't evince the love for Israel and its people I need to hear.
My radar starts beeping when anyone suggests limiting weapons to Israel; I worry that Israel has or may have legitimate need for those weapons elsewhere, regardless of what Israel is doing in Gaza.
The red line for me is limiting sales of weapons essential for Israel to defend itself. Some offensive weapons fall into that category. Some don't. Regardless, my view is that any limitations or bans need to be narrowly tailored, with sunset clauses or other vehicles for ending the conditions.
Yet one can support certain arms limitations and be pro-Israel. Taking such a position might not have been pro-Israel a year ago. Taking that position today, depending on the reason and the extent of the limitations, can be as pro-Israel or more pro-Israel than opposing any limitations.
The same is true of supporting immediate recognition of a Palestinian state. One does not have to agree with these positions to recognize the pro-Israel logic behind them.
A superb example from a Jewish candidate is this Substack by Evanston mayor Daniel Biss, the leading candidate in the Democratic primary to succeed Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) in a district with a large Jewish population.
This statement from Senate candidate Rep. Robin Kelly (D-IL) explains why and how members of Congress with strong pro-Israel records might support certain limitations on arms sales.
I respect those who think that there are ways short of arms limitations to persuade Netanyahu to end the war. I certainly will not call anyone who holds that view anti-Israel.
The question of whether to limit arms sales to Israel will end when the war in Gaza ends. When or if the war in Gaza ends is under the control of the Netanyahu government.
I hope that everyone in the pro-Israel community can agree that the war must end now, all the hostages must come home now, Gaza must be flooded with humanitarian aid now, and Netanyahu must stop steps leading to annexation of the West Bank now. I'm for whatever will make "now" happen soonest and secure Israel's future as a Jewish, democratic state.
Upcoming Event. Alan & Andrea Solow, Jon Carson, Politics with Dana & Steve, and Mark & Margie Zivin are hosting Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss, the leading candidate in the 9th Illinois congressional district Democratic primary (Rep. Jan Schakowsky is retiring), on Thursday, September 18, from 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm CT, in person in Chicago. RSVP and contribute here.
In Case You Missed It (you may have missed a lot this week):
- David N. Myers, Aaron Greenberg, and Kate Pynoos: Trump’s claim of fighting antisemitism at UCLA is a dangerous charade. Among their many important points is one that all Jewish organizations would do well to take to heart in other contexts. "The old strategy of aligning with whoever holds state power to preserve Jewish interests — known as the royal or vertical alliance — is no longer practicable or justifiable. Rather, we must commit to horizontal alliances with other groups that share a sense of grave apprehension over the dismantling of one of the great institutions of higher learning in the United States."
- If you or anyone you know is interested, now is the time to apply for the just-launched Karsh Journalism Fellowship, which offers 10 fellows from across the country a $4,000 stipend, top-tier mentorship, and a powerful network to help them effectively report on Jewish issues. It’s the only journalism fellowship focused on Jewish issues, open to all early-career journalists.
Social Post of the Week. Amir Tibon.
Facebook Post of the Week. Oliver Kornetzke.
Video Clip of the Week. Billy Joel was dying to ask Bob Dylan this one question.
Vintage Music Clip of the Week. White hippies made some good music.
For those new to this newsletter. This is the newsletter even Republicans have to read and the original home of the viral and beloved Top Ten Signs You're At a Republican Seder (yes, I wrote it). If someone forwarded this newsletter to you, why not subscribe and get it in your inbox every Sunday? Just click here--it's free.
I periodically update my posts on the IHRA definition of antisemitism and on why Democrats are better than Republicans on Israel and antisemitism. My definition of "pro-Israel" is here (it's a work in progress, as am I).
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