Show Notes
Could antisemitism cost Democrats the Jewish vote?
Joel Rubin, former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for House Affairs and founding political director of J Street, joins Jonah for a candid conversation about the growing divide between Jewish Americans and the Democratic Party.Rubin explains why he’s sounding the alarm over Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed, citing his rejection of Israel as a U.S. ally and his response to an attempted synagogue terrorist attack.
Drawing on his experience working in the State Department and as Jewish outreach director for Bernie Sanders’ 2020 presidential campaign, Rubin examines how progressive politics have shifted since October 7, why he believes Bernie Sanders has failed to push back against antisemitism within his movement, and why Jewish voters can no longer be taken for granted. He also explores the distinction between criticizing Israeli policy and anti-Zionism, the future of Jewish Democratic voters, and the fight to keep Jews included in progressive spaces. Reflecting on his family’s history and the legacy of the Tree of Life synagogue attack in his hometown of Pittsburgh, Rubin makes a passionate case for Jewish resilience and American Jewish identity.
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Learn more about Joel Rubin
Joel Rubin LinkedIn Joel Rubin X Joel Rubin’s Substack Buy Joel’s book CREDITS: Written and Hosted by Jonah Platt, Executive Producer: Jonah Platt, Supervising Producer: Alex Alcheh, Associate Producer: Rachel Stern, Head of Operations: Josie Rothschild Ivker, Operations Associate: Emma Webb, Research Associate: Samantha Greenwald, Production Associate: Sasha Fiora, Chief of Staff: Abbe Feder, Production Intern: Tova Benarroch, YouTube Consultants: Jason Al-Samarrie & Zac Stein, Post Production by TIMEWEAVER, Creative Director: F. Brian Scofield, ACE, Lead Editor: Noam Klement, Editors: Gray Clevenger, Geoff McGee. Graphic Designer: Noah Bell, Theme Music by Gabriel Mann, Performed by Jonah Platt
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