Free speech doesn’t only mean speech the government approves. Suppression and retaliation undermine our core democratic norms and values and make all of us less safe.

We are just sitting on a powder keg as the worst possible extremists exploit the Kirk murder to dehumanize, attack, and sow more violence — from the threats against elected officials to inane attempts to make this about the trans community. This is precisely how political violence works.

LA! I’ll be speaking at IKAR during Shabbat services tomorrow morning, in conversation with the great Rabbi Sharon Brous about antisemitism and democracy. You can join in person or watch online. ikar.org/events/count...

The Evergreen school shooter’s social media was “filled with white supremacist content, posts exhibiting a fascination with mass shootings, and reposted videos that ‘were explicitly antisemitic or depicted people in Nazi uniforms.’” coloradonewsline.com/briefs/everg...

We have no idea yet who the shooter was or what motivated them. Those exploiting this horror for political gain - including the president, it appears - are only reinforcing the very dynamics that fuel political violence in the first place. And so the cycle continues.

Rising political violence — including those who exploit it to pit communities against one another — is among the most dire threats to our democracy and our safety. This is utterly horrifying. And I’m terrified about what may follow.

The normalization of political violence is a threat to everyone's safety. We should all be horrified by this — and make unequivocally clear this violence has no place in our politics or our society.

A funny thing happened today: Rep. Walberg, Chair of the House Education & Labor Committee, claimed @rweingarten.bsky.social has “not said anything” on antisemitism — while Randi & I were quite literally leading a program on countering antisemitism for @aft.org members, part of a series.

Grateful and proud of my colleagues Rori Picker Neiss and Shauna Leavey for their oped today on the urgency of investing in the Jewish community relations professionals on the frontlines right now — and how we’re doing just that at @thejcpa.bsky.social. ejewishphilanthropy.com/supporting-t...

Cutting billions in research funds does nothing to keep Jews - or anyone - safe. It only exploits legitimate concerns about antisemitism to undermine academic institutions and our democracy. This is good news ⬇️⬇️ Harvard Secures a Court Victory in Its Fight With Trump www.nytimes.com/2025/09/03/u...

🧵Over the last few weeks, far-right trolls have escalated a bigoted campaign under the guise of defending Jews, Israel, and Americans — leading to the suspension of visas for nearly all Palestinian passport holders, dangerous attacks on Muslim federal employees, and more. 1/

There is so much to say about @nadler.house.gov’s incredible legacy. But for now I’m just grateful for his leadership on so many fronts — including in passing the torch to new leaders. Nadler, Pillar of Democratic Party’s Old Guard, Will Retire Next Year www.nytimes.com/2025/09/01/n...

The Minneapolis school shooter was seemingly inspired by a number of extremist attacks, involving the same hate, conspiracy theories, and tactics we saw today — a painful reminder that an attack on any community is an attack on all of us. Our statement: jewishpublicaffairs.org/press-releas...

Seeing reports that the Minneapolis shooter’s gun had antisemitic scrawlings, including “6 million wasn’t enough” and “destroy HIAS.” This sadly shouldn’t be surprising. We’ve seen a cycle of extremist attacks in which each inspires the next - including painting white supremacist symbols on guns.

8 and 10 years old. This doesn’t need to be normal. And yet we’ve made it so.

DHS is forcing synagogues & other institutions to choose between vital nonprofit security $ and their core religious values & beliefs, with grant conditions potentially requiring cooperation with ICE & banning DEIA @thejcpa.bsky.social is urging these terms be waived now www.jta.org/2025/08/26/p...

Today’s NYT on the path from Charlottesville to today — and how once-fringe ideas and policies have now been wholly normalized. www.nytimes.com/2025/08/23/u... @alanfeuer.bsky.social

Trump meets with Putin, whose goal is election interference to undermine democracy. Trump says he’s going to get rid of mail-in ballots & voting machines, using conspiracy theories that directly fueled political violence & dismissing states rights. It would be comical if it weren’t so dangerous.

Weaponizing the federal government to intimidate a political opponent is not something that happens in a democracy.

Declaring an emergency & deploying the National Guard in places like LA & DC is part of a dangerous pattern: manufacturing crises in order to invoke emergency powers, bypass democratic protections like due process, and normalize extreme policies and ideas. (1/3)

Our CEO, @amyspitalnick.bsky.social, in @newsweek.com on how the administration is normalizing explicit extremism.

This week marks 8 years since neo-Nazis violently attacked Charlottesville. At a moment of record antisemitism from all directions, this anniversary is a reminder: our safety as Jews is inextricably linked with the safety of all communities and an inclusive democracy.

What does authoritarianism look like in practice? This.

Hostages’ families protest Gaza takeover plan: www.haaretz.com/israel-news/... As I told the Times of Israel earlier this year, taking over Gaza and/or forcibly removing Palestinians is at odds with both our fundamental values and Israel’s own future: www.timesofisrael.com/trumps-gaza-...

Grateful to our partners at the @neatoday.bsky.social Jewish Affairs Caucus for this important statement rejecting attempts to exploit real concerns about antisemitism to weaken unions & the right to organize. Our safety and our values are inextricably linked. www.neajacaucus.org/post/address...

Mahmoud Khalil is entitled to core due process and other rights, like everyone. And his comments justifying Oct. 7th and downplaying real antisemitism are simply horrifying. www.timesofisrael.com/mahmoud-khal...

The new FBI hate crimes data confirms what we already know: we’re facing a crisis of hate and extremism. Jewish and other marginalized communities remain at serious risk—and critical prevention programs are being cut when we need them most.

The ways in which antisemitism & anti-democratic extremism reinforce one another threaten not only the Jewish community, but all of us. We must band together to fight these threats. More in my op-ed with @TheJCPA.bsky.social's @AmySpitalnick.bsky.social. www.newsweek.com/fight-antise...

Cutting funds for health and science research does nothing to protect Jews. Antisemitism on campus is real and demands a response - and our legitimate concerns should not be exploited for an unrelated attack on academic institutions and freedoms.

Another thing that happened in the Senate today is the confirmation of an extremist with white nationalist ties to lead the… National Counterterrorism Center.

An excellent piece by @rweingarten.bsky.social & @amyspitalnick.bsky.social Extremists repeatedly try to pit Jewish & educational communities against each other—communities that have long stood united Their new initiative offers a hopeful path forward

Kudos to @thejcpa.bsky.social and @amyspitalnick.bsky.social for continuing to model responsible leadership by a Jewish American communal org during this polarizing time:

This shouldn’t be considered normal.

The safety of the Jewish community is intimately connected with a strong public education system, a thriving labor movement, & an inclusive democracy that protects the rights and freedoms of all. My op-ed w/ @AmySpitalnick.bsky.social, CEO of @TheJCPA.bsky.social www.newsweek.com/fight-antise...

Educators, working together with Jewish community leaders, have a critical role to play in fighting antisemitism & hate. Read more in my op-ed with Amy Spitalnick, CEO of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs. We describe our project for combatting antisemitism. www.newsweek.com/fight-antise...

Last week, I spoke at a House Homeland Security Committee roundtable on antisemitism, urging members to push DHS to release the notice of funding opportunities for the vital Nonprofit Security Grant Program -- which was two months overdue. Today, DHS finally heeded our communities’ calls.

My new op-ed with @aft.org President @rweingarten.bsky.social: With antisemitism rising and public education & democracy under attack — and extremists pitting us against one another — educators and the Jewish community must closely partner. www.newsweek.com/fight-antise...

Jewish values compel us to act when lives are in jeopardy. That is what’s happening in Gaza — a humanitarian catastrophe. It doesn’t matter who’s to blame for the conflict. It doesn’t take away from the horrors of 10/7 and the hostages. These people need aid. www.haaretz.com/middle-east-...

This administration continues to exploit real concerns about antisemitism to undermine our core democratic norms & institutions. This is not about keeping Jews safe — if it were, they wouldn’t have gutted the Office of Civil Rights & other key protections. This is about advancing an extreme agenda.

You can be deeply committed to the security of the Israeli people and Israel’s future *and* call out the humanitarian horrors in Gaza. In fact, both are necessary. My colleague Rabbi Doug Kahn does it here: jweekly.com/2025/07/21/a...

Join @neeratanden.bsky.social on Thursday, July 24, for a discussion on antisemitism in the U.S with distinguished leaders from the Jewish community, including Ted Deutch, Dr. Deborah E. Lipstadt, @olinsky.bsky.social, and @amyspitalnick.bsky.social.

A new detention site in the Florida Everglades is holding immigrants in sweltering, unsanitary, inhumane conditions. The Jewish community knows the dangers of dehumanization. This isn’t safety—it’s a moral failure.

With antisemitism rising and public education under attack, we welcome NEA’s vote to both reject a divisive resolution and reaffirm its commitment to academic freedom, association rights, and - most importantly - the safety of Jewish and all students and educators. www.nea.org/about-nea/le...

Tonight, @neatoday.bsky.social voted not to adopt NBI 39 (the ADL boycott). As we wrote earlier this week (⬇️), it’s possible to disagree with ADL without cutting off all engagement - which would undercut our shared goals of countering antisemitism and broader hate & bias. www.nea.org/about-nea/le...

Now Mamdani is getting attacked from the far left because he expressed empathy for the Jewish community’s fear, like @aoc.bsky.social got attacked after she hosted a webinar on antisemitism. If progressive leaders acknowledging antisemitism is somehow beyond the pale for you, ask yourself why.

Mamdani has engaged thoughtfully with many of us in recent weeks and, as a result, said today he understands how harmfully Jews hear rhetoric like "globalize the intifada” & discouraged its use. There's much work ahead but these comments matter. www.nytimes.com/2025/07/15/b... @emmagf.bsky.social

The extreme voices (on both ends of the political spectrum) pitting Jews against teachers’ unions only make it easier for this admin to gut public education and our broader institutions & democracy. Division is their core tactic — intended to undermine the very coalitions we need to fight back.

Thank you @amyspitalnick.bsky.social for this characteristically thoughtful response to the divisive resolution currently before the NEA: jewishpublicaffairs.org/press-releas...

The thing about antisemitism is that, most of the time, it doesn’t actually look like a Nazi hacking Elmo’s twitter account.

Happy 60th to my brilliant friend @bulldogshadow.bsky.social, who models what it means to lead with courage and clarity every single day. Read Eric’s birthday reflections here: newsone.com/6298056/op-e...