Latest / Antisemitism Watch / Antisemitism Watch - August 29, 2026, 09 AM Eastern

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Antisemitism Watch - August 29, 2026, 09 AM Eastern · Antisemitism Watch

• 0:06
  Speaker 1: You're listening to Antisemitism Watch. I'm Rachel Adler. In France,
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  Speaker 1: reporting indicates an Irish man has admitted making death threats
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  Speaker 1: to a Jewish couple and will stand trial, highlighting a
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  Speaker 1: case involving antisemitism. New York Governor Kathy Hochul has pledged
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  Speaker 1: to increase security for synagogues and Jewish communities across the
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  Speaker 1: state ahead of the approaching high holidays. Speaking at Central
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  Speaker 1: Synagogue in Manhattan, Hochul stated, If you need more money,
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  Speaker 1: if you need more protection, I will send the New
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  Speaker 1: York State Police here, adding that the state will fortify
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  Speaker 1: this place. The commitment follows a recent attack at the
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  Speaker 1: synagogue where a worshipper and a security guard were assaulted
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  Speaker 1: and charged as hate crimes. Governor Hochul emphasized her responsibility, declaring,
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  Speaker 1: There is no place for hate in New York State.
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  Speaker 1: In politics and media, Democratic politicians are facing continued criticism
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  Speaker 1: for their engagement with popular podcaster Hassan Piker. reporting from
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  Speaker 1: In Focus Details that Piker has a history of anti-Semitic statements,
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  Speaker 1: including calling Jews inbreds, asserting Hamas is 1,000 times better
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  Speaker 1: than Israel, and dismissing the rapes from the October 7th
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  Speaker 1: attacks as inconsequential. The article notes that figures like California
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  Speaker 1: Congressman Ro Khanna have defended appearing on Piker's show to
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  Speaker 1: reach new voters, comparing him to conservative commentators. However, the
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  Speaker 1: reporting argues that Piker's statements are more reckless and hateful
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  Speaker 1: than those of figures like Ben Shapiro or Joe Rogan.
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  Speaker 1: Also mentioned as having appeared on or campaigned with Piker,
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  Speaker 1: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Sen Bernie Sanders, Rep Ilhan Omar, and New
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  Speaker 1: York Mayor Zoran Mamdani, though some Democrats are reportedly distancing themselves.
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  Speaker 1: In Michigan, Democratic Attorney General Dana Nessel, who is Jewish,
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  Speaker 1: announced she will not attend the party's upcoming state convention
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  Speaker 1: due to security concerns and fear of harassment. Fox News
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  Speaker 1: Digital reports this decision stems from anti-Semitism and pro-Palestinian hostility
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  Speaker 1: within the party following instances where anti-Israel activists shouted down
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  Speaker 1: pro-Israel speakers. Nessel stated, I don't feel safe going, I
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  Speaker 1: feel like my presence isn't going to be welcome, I
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  Speaker 1: don't want to get chased around, I don't want to
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  Speaker 1: get harassed, The Michigan Democratic Party spokesperson, Derek Hunnaman, responded
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  Speaker 1: by saying the party is committed to ensuring party-hosted events
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  Speaker 1: are safe and secure environments for all attendees and rejectess, antisemitism, Islamophobia,
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  Speaker 1: and all forms of hateful conduct. Rabbi Asher Lopatin told
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  Speaker 1: Fox News Digital that some Jewish Democrats feel traumatized by
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  Speaker 1: previous treatment of speakers and candidates. Canadian authorities have cancelled
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  Speaker 1: the electronic travel authorization. or ETA, for Jerusalem Deputy Mayor
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  Speaker 1: Ari King without explanation, preventing him from attending a fundraising event.
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  Speaker 1: According to the Jerusalem Post, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
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  Speaker 1: cited privacy laws for not disclosing reasons. Advocacy groups the
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  Speaker 1: Legal Center for Palestine and the Hind Rajab Foundation claimed
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  Speaker 1: credit for the revocation. With the Legal Center for Palestine
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  Speaker 1: stating King is a facilitator of ethnic cleansing in occupied
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  Speaker 1: East Jerusalem, whose actions are illegal. The Hind Rajab Foundation
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  Speaker 1: also reported filing a request for prosecution with the U.S.
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  Speaker 1: Department of Justice. In institutional and policy news, the California
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  Speaker 1: legislature has passed two bills that Jewish California considers critically important.
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  Speaker 1: Assembly Bill 395 requires public schools and agencies to avoid
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  Speaker 1: scheduling major events on Jewish holidays, such as Rosh Hashanah
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  Speaker 1: and Yom Kippur. Assembly Bill 1836 will expand the non-profit
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  Speaker 1: security grant program to include off-site events. David Bockersley, CEO
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  Speaker 1: of Jewish California, stated that Ob 395 ends a quiet
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  Speaker 1: but persistent form of exclusion and that Ob 1836 addresses
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  Speaker 1: safety concerns for community gatherings. Additionally, Assembly Bill 1763, which
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  Speaker 1: requires public schools to excuse absences for religious holidays, without
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  Speaker 1: requiring written parental requests, has also passed and is headed
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  Speaker 1: to the governor's desk. Finally, reporting notes that the Trump
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  Speaker 1: administration is re-evaluating civil rights enforcement, with a focus on
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  Speaker 1: areas including antisemitism, diversity, equity and inclusion, and women's athletics.
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  Speaker 1: This approach is noted in conjunction with a public settlement
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  Speaker 1: that is reportedly the first of its kind in nearly
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  Speaker 1: two decades. I'm Rachel Adler. Thank you for joining us
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  Speaker 1: on Antisemitism Watch. This report was generated with AI assistance
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  Speaker 1: and may contain inaccuracies. Please verify important details with primary sources.