Latest / Antisemitism Watch / Antisemitism Watch - September 18, 2026, 05 PM Eastern

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Antisemitism Watch - September 18, 2026, 05 PM Eastern · Antisemitism Watch

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  Speaker 1: You're listening to Antisemitism Watch. I'm Rachel Adler. Today, we
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  Speaker 1: have critical updates on threats, rhetoric, and policy responses shaping
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  Speaker 1: the fight against antisemitism worldwide. In Jewish community and institutional security,
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  Speaker 1: a potentially devastating attack was averted. The FBI arrested 21-year-old
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  Speaker 1: Jonathan Kramer in Pennsylvania for allegedly plotting a mass casualty
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  Speaker 1: attack inspired by ISIS. Investigators said the plan included poisoning
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  Speaker 1: food at synagogues. Kramer possessed a rifle, knives, and ammunition,
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  Speaker 1: and had previously been on the FBI's radar as a minor.
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  Speaker 1: Sean Brokos, the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh's Director of
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  Speaker 1: Community Security, emphasized that tips from concerned citizens were crucial
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  Speaker 1: in mitigating this threat, underscoring the importance of vigilance and
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  Speaker 1: community reporting. In Hate Crimes, Manchester police are investigating an
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  Speaker 1: act of vandalism at the Mocha Pot as a hate crime.
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  Speaker 1: Swastikas and the words white power were spray-painted on the property.
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  Speaker 1: Police have released surveillance images and are asking for the
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  Speaker 1: public's help in identifying a person of interest in connection
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  Speaker 1: with the incident. The New Hampshire Department of Justice Civil
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  Speaker 1: Rights Unit has been notified. In New York City, Mayor
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  Speaker 1: Zoran Mamdani faced protests from approximately 150 to 250 students
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  Speaker 1: and Jewish leaders who rallied outside Gracie Mansion. Protesters cited
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  Speaker 1: Mamdani's rhetoric concerning Israel, with Rabbi Avi Weiss stating that
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  Speaker 1: the mayor's comments constitute antisemitism. This demonstration occurred ahead of
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  Speaker 1: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's visit to the city for
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  Speaker 1: the UN General Assembly. The protest also highlighted concerns amid
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  Speaker 1: a rise in antisemitic hate crimes in New York City.
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  Speaker 1: which comprise more than half of reported hate crimes in
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  Speaker 1: the city, according to NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch. In the
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  Speaker 1: realm of politics and media, rapper Macklemore has been barred
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  Speaker 1: from performing at Gillette Stadium by New England Patriots owner
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  Speaker 1: Robert Kraft. Kraft accused the artist of a broader history
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  Speaker 1: of anti-Semitic rhetoric and imagery. This action follows Macklemore's recent
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  Speaker 1: pro-Palestinian activism, including his song, Heinz Hall, and comments made
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  Speaker 1: in Germany about the Holocaust and occupation. While Macklemore has
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  Speaker 1: not apologized, the ADL has called his actions unacceptable. This
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  Speaker 1: situation also brings to mind previous controversies, such as Macklemore's
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  Speaker 1: 2014 performance with an antisemitic costume, for which he later apologized.
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  Speaker 1: Peter Rosenberg, speaking on challenges in the music industry, contrasted
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  Speaker 1: Macklemore's situation with that of Can I West, highlighting West's past,
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  Speaker 1: Heil Hitler remarks and swastika merchandise. A stark contrast in
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  Speaker 1: how political figures address controversial statements is highlighted in reporting
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  Speaker 1: on streamer Hassan Piker. While Republican leaders unequivocally condemned David
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  Speaker 1: Duke in 2016, Democratic leaders have faced criticism for their
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  Speaker 1: more measured responses to Piker's rhetoric, which includes statements like
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  Speaker 1: America deserved 9-11 and calling Israel the Jewish ISIS. Piker,
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  Speaker 1: with an estimated 11 million followers, has appeared with prominent Democrats.
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  Speaker 1: While some figures like Abdul El-Sayed called Piker's 9-11 statement dumb,
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  Speaker 1: they did not disavow him. Others, like former DNC chairwoman
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  Speaker 1: Debbie Wasserman Schultz, have called Piker a stone-cold anti-Semite. Internationally,
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  Speaker 1: in Hamburg, Germany, the center-right Christian Democratic Union Party has
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  Speaker 1: unveiled a comprehensive 12-point plan to combat rising anti-Semitism. This
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  Speaker 1: initiative includes mandatory antisemitism training for teachers, ensuring students experience
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  Speaker 1: Jewish life firsthand, and appointing dedicated antisemitism officers at universities.
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  Speaker 1: The plan comes as Germany has recorded a significant increase
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  Speaker 1: in antisemitic incidents, with 8,725 documented in 2025 alone, according
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  Speaker 1: to RIAS. In the United States, bipartisan legislation called the
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  Speaker 1: Safe Spaces for All Act has been introduced. This bill
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  Speaker 1: aims to expand federal security grants to cover guards and
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  Speaker 1: security staff for synagogues and other houses of worship. The
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  Speaker 1: initiative addresses the sharply rising security costs faced by Jewish institutions,
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  Speaker 1: which the Jewish Federations of North America estimate exceeded $ 1
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  Speaker 1: billion in 2025. In Dearborn, Michigan, Mayor Abdullah Hammoud is
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  Speaker 1: facing a federal civil rights lawsuit. The suit alleges his
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  Speaker 1: administration used taxpayer funds to promote Islam while denying comparable
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  Speaker 1: recognition for Christian and Jewish holidays. The lawsuit also claims
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  Speaker 1: retaliation against a journalist who questioned the disparity. The American
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  Speaker 1: Freedom Law Center, representing the plaintiff, argues the city's conduct
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  Speaker 1: violated constitutional protections for religious freedom and equal protection. Texas
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  Speaker 1: Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick has clarified his directive regarding the
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  Speaker 1: removal of books from school libraries. Patrick stated that while
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  Speaker 1: his initiative focuses on sexually explicit books, Holocaust literature, including
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  Speaker 1: Eli Wiesel's Night and The Diary of Anne Frank, should
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  Speaker 1: be taught. This clarification follows confusion after Night was listed
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  Speaker 1: among books potentially to be removed, with Patrick initially suggesting
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  Speaker 1: it was too violent for middle schoolers. In Houthi-run Yemen,
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  Speaker 1: Antisemitic messaging is described as openly used and promoted, characterized
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  Speaker 1: by observers as a way of life, indicating its pervasive
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  Speaker 1: societal influence in the region. Internationally, Costa Rica plans to
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  Speaker 1: apply for membership in the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance, becoming
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  Speaker 1: the third Latin American nation to join. The country also
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  Speaker 1: intends to name an antisemitism envoy under its foreign ministry,
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  Speaker 1: signaling a commitment to combating Jew hatred. On college campuses,
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  Speaker 1: Deborah Lipstadt is returning to academia to address antisemitism and
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  Speaker 1: support Jewish students, faculty, and their families. In a congressional race,
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  Speaker 1: Democratic candidate Kate Conley is facing criticism over her tenure
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  Speaker 1: as director for counterterrorism at the Biden NSC. Opponents point
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  Speaker 1: to a period that coincided with increased Iranian support for
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  Speaker 1: Hamas and a rise in antisemitic incidents in the U.S.,
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  Speaker 1: as documented by the ADL. I'm Rachel Adler, thank you
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  Speaker 1: for listening to Antisemitism Watch. Follow Antisemitism Watch in your
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  Speaker 1: podcast app so you don't miss the next update. This
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  Speaker 1: report was generated with AI assistance and may contain inaccuracies.
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  Speaker 1: Please verify important details with primary sources.