Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search
65 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
New Rule: No Jews, No News Real Time with Bill Maher (HBO) (Original Post) question everything Yesterday OP
Well worth watching but it may be uncomfortable for some sarisataka Yesterday #1
If the argument is that there is a short list of worse countries than Klarkashton Yesterday #2
No, the question is why does a teen in N. Carolina, a Congressional candidate and a professor question everything Yesterday #3
I don't find such a shortage of 'point of views' stopdiggin Yesterday #4
He wants "consistency". LudwigPastorius Yesterday #5
You may not care for military inventions but this country relies heavily on Israeli ideas question everything Yesterday #9
What has that got to do with it? muriel_volestrangler Yesterday #16
I don't say it is OK. The administrations have been saying it. Also recognising that as long as this country question everything Yesterday #44
OK, I'd hoped DU threads would develop better than "here's the US government line on this" muriel_volestrangler Yesterday #48
There are plenty of insightful thoughtful posts on this thread. yardwork Yesterday #51
More insight than Maher's attempt, certainly muriel_volestrangler 23 hrs ago #54
See my comment about Maher here. yardwork 23 hrs ago #55
It's the forced compliance angrychair 19 hrs ago #61
I think Trump gave billions in weapons to Russia recently. yardwork Yesterday #19
I think until the DNC resolves this issue, we are destined to lose elections. LeftInTX Yesterday #6
Wow, Galindo types are POISON to the Democratic Party RandomNumbers Yesterday #39
She has said some real nutso things: LeftInTX Yesterday #43
Real, pure hatred and fear of Jewish people there. yardwork Yesterday #46
This is scary. I have never heard of this faction. I think that only Democrats should be allowed to question everything Yesterday #49
Election laws are determined by states. yardwork Yesterday #50
I can't find where the connection between Galindo and "PSL" has been made, apart in that post muriel_volestrangler 22 hrs ago #56
She hangs with them. I've seen pics. I've seen too many people hanging with them and holding their signs. LeftInTX 13 hrs ago #63
Thank you muriel_volestrangler 8 hrs ago #64
The party in general cannot control.who runs LeftInTX 2 hrs ago #65
I watched it carpetbagger Yesterday #7
And what was the excuse of the torch marchers in 2017 in Charlottesville question everything Yesterday #8
You're assuming people are sophisticated enough to separate Judaism and a government policy RandySF Yesterday #12
I don't see DSA or other groups as responsible AZProgressive Yesterday #13
Piker is a pig and his comments and actions prove it. RandySF Yesterday #14
We are at war because of TRUMP and the idiots that supported him and didn't support Harris JI7 Yesterday #15
and those folks say this war with Iran is all because of Israel, that speaks lostincalifornia Yesterday #35
Opposition to Israel's actions is not the problem. yardwork Yesterday #22
Jewphobia is truly starting to resemble rabies gulliver Yesterday #10
I can't recommend this enough. RandySF Yesterday #11
It's the adolescent contrarian to tankie to antisemite pipeline Sympthsical Yesterday #17
Well said. yardwork Yesterday #21
Thank you. It was determined that many of the pro Palestinians groups that appeared immediately question everything Yesterday #23
They were ready and they had identical slogans and props. yardwork Yesterday #41
The propaganda tailored to flip voters on the left against Democrats got better and more effective. betsuni Yesterday #32
Yup. I married a Jewish man and had two children... Joinfortmill Yesterday #30
You should let your DNC rep know. LeftInTX Yesterday #31
Anti-establishment anti-capitalist/West types put them in the Establishment binder betsuni Yesterday #18
I'm sorry...in which those examples are we actually funding the atrocities? biocube Yesterday #20
The Jews face... BH liberal Yesterday #24
You must not know many Jewish people Mossfern Yesterday #26
I have dozens of Jews in my extended family... BH liberal Yesterday #29
Fuck Bill Maher Prairie Gates Yesterday #25
Maher has gone over to the Dark Side of the Farce... BH liberal Yesterday #27
Maher is an asshole but even a blind squirrel sometimes finds a nut. yardwork Yesterday #45
Indeed. BannonsLiver Yesterday #34
Congratulations! You're in contention for the weekly Abolishinist 22 hrs ago #57
It's a fine line, that's for sure. Joinfortmill Yesterday #28
US military/economic support for Israel is the primary issue in present day political debate. walkingman Yesterday #33
Every other nation in the middle east is also an ethnostate. yardwork Yesterday #42
I personally wish that Democrats and Republicans worried as much about our own state of affairs walkingman 22 hrs ago #58
I am worried about our state of affairs. yardwork 22 hrs ago #60
Post removed Post removed Yesterday #36
Stole land? PCIntern Yesterday #37
The majority of civilized governments voted... BH liberal Yesterday #38
If the Jews had been given the planet Mars, PCIntern Yesterday #40
Who is them in your post? yardwork Yesterday #47
The USA doesnt give billions of dollars and arrest people for protected free speech on behalf of the other countries. SSJVegeta 23 hrs ago #52
There are some differences themaguffin 23 hrs ago #53
Bill you are completely off base with so much of your rants on Israel. The decimation of Gaza and now Lebanon Pisces 22 hrs ago #59
As a Liberal, I fucking can't stand him. He's a pig - with apologies to pigs and Maru Kitteh 19 hrs ago #62

sarisataka

(22,822 posts)
1. Well worth watching but it may be uncomfortable for some
Sat May 16, 2026, 12:55 AM
Yesterday

if they can recognize themselves in the points he makes.

question everything

(52,379 posts)
3. No, the question is why does a teen in N. Carolina, a Congressional candidate and a professor
Sat May 16, 2026, 01:23 AM
Yesterday

among others carry a life long ambition to kill Jews.

And the list of countries is far from short.

Not surprisingly, some here will pick and choose.

stopdiggin

(15,632 posts)
4. I don't find such a shortage of 'point of views'
Sat May 16, 2026, 01:35 AM
Yesterday

That makes Bill Maher a 'requirement'.

(Yes, he may occasionally have something worthwhile to say ... But - see above ... And then the annoyance factor .. )

LudwigPastorius

(14,989 posts)
5. He wants "consistency".
Sat May 16, 2026, 01:42 AM
Yesterday

OK, the U.S. doesn't give North Korea, Russia, China, the Sudan, etc. $3.8 billion of weapons every year, so let's start being consistent by ending arms sales to Bibi.

(Note: Maher is the one who introduced the comparison between Israel and those countries.)

question everything

(52,379 posts)
9. You may not care for military inventions but this country relies heavily on Israeli ideas
Sat May 16, 2026, 02:10 AM
Yesterday

and products.

In addition, as with every foreign aid there are strings attached and most of the money has to be used to purchase American products.

muriel_volestrangler

(106,581 posts)
16. What has that got to do with it?
Sat May 16, 2026, 06:34 AM
Yesterday

Are you saying that since Israel can invent ways to kill people more efficiently, then it's OK to supply them with other arms too? Or that since they're using American-made weapons to kill, then that makes it OK?

question everything

(52,379 posts)
44. I don't say it is OK. The administrations have been saying it. Also recognising that as long as this country
Sat May 16, 2026, 12:54 PM
Yesterday

has interest in the region that Israel has been providing eyes and ears.

muriel_volestrangler

(106,581 posts)
48. OK, I'd hoped DU threads would develop better than "here's the US government line on this"
Sat May 16, 2026, 01:01 PM
Yesterday

especially if it takes querying it to get the admission that it is.

muriel_volestrangler

(106,581 posts)
54. More insight than Maher's attempt, certainly
Sat May 16, 2026, 01:59 PM
23 hrs ago

Discourse would be better if no one listened to him.

angrychair

(12,497 posts)
61. It's the forced compliance
Sat May 16, 2026, 05:29 PM
19 hrs ago

It's not just that the government sends billions and billions of dollars to Israel, that gives it's citizens free healthcare and college, while telling Americans that it cannot afford those things.

It's also that states, counties and cities and towns are sending millions of dollars to Israel as well.
Arkansas is one of the poorest states in the union but gave $55 million dollars to Israel with a recommendation to invest another $100 million dollars in Israeli bonds.
https://arktimes.com/arkansas-blog/2025/07/11/arkansas-taxpayers-are-loaning-israel-millions-of-dollars-as-its-war-in-gaza-grinds-on

Even a small town in Texas, desperately short and need of finding additional funding, tried to cut its budget and realized it was giving $4 million dollars a year to Israel and when it tried to cut it, Greg Abbott himself threatened to cut all state funding to the town if it cut that funding as part of a boarder resolution asking for a ceasefire:
https://www.ms.now/top-stories/latest/greg-abbott-israel-resolution-san-marcos-texas-rcna204264

Sorry, I find it weird that any state, county or town is sending money to another country, much less it being forced to send that country money. That's bonkers.

There are lots of stories out there like this and it's insane.
Telling our own citizens "we can't afford that" while sending millions of dollars to another country that gives it's own citizens free stuff is a sure way to foster animosity among its population.

yardwork

(69,633 posts)
19. I think Trump gave billions in weapons to Russia recently.
Sat May 16, 2026, 08:55 AM
Yesterday

The weapons that mysteriously disappeared last month are probably in Russia, aimed at Ukraine.

LeftInTX

(34,852 posts)
6. I think until the DNC resolves this issue, we are destined to lose elections.
Sat May 16, 2026, 01:47 AM
Yesterday

They are not confronting other political parties like Party for Socialism and Liberation which is trying to destroy the Democratic Party. PSL is in cahoots with the GOP and Putin. Yet, the Democratic Party twiddles their thumbs and invites them in their space. For pete's sake, they're a rival political party which wants to destroy the Democratic Party.

This Maureen Galindo weirdo is part of them. She's a non-voter and now it looks like she will win her primary runoff.

People on FB are cheering on the fact that she wants her opponent charged with treason. These are people that I know that are cheering her on. These are Democrats. These are precinct chairs. These are former candidates.

This is not good. We are fucked up for allowing this ratfucking within the party. Maureen is receiving money from the GOP. (Likely Roger Stone)

San Antonio congressional candidate Maureen Galindo wants rival tried for treason

Democratic congressional candidate Maureen Galindo is again stirring up controversy, this time for saying her runoff opponent, former Bexar County Sheriff’s Department spokesman Johnny Garcia, should be tried for treason.

“[Immigration and Customs Enforcement] is again part of [the Department of Homeland Security], which has headquarters and offices inside Israel,” Galindo said on Texas Public Radio’s The Source with David Martin Davies.

“This is an Israeli occupation of America,” the candidate for San Antonio’s 35th Congressional District continued. “In fact, I was thinking this morning, maybe Johnny Garcia and others who support him, or anybody who is supported by Israel, should be tried for treason.”


A bewildered Davies tried to respond before Galindo cut him off, warning that Israel could be planning genocide in the United States. She didn’t elaborate on how that might come about.

https://www.sacurrent.com/news/san-antonio-congressional-candidate-maureen-galindo-wants-rival-tried-for-treason/


We are going to continue to lose elections. Maureen Galindo is the biggest flake. She talks like she has schizophrenia, yet everyone is supporting what she is saying.
It's disgusting. I'm ready to throw in the towel.

The only thing good that could come of it, is that it will make Democrats look like a total laughing stock and she will probably get about 15% of the vote in November. (Her supporters don't care. They think she is the best thing that has happened to the Democratic Party)

Maybe the party needs to hit rock bottom. They aren't going to go anywhere if they are pandering to the Party for Socialism and Liberation. (They are a political party, which is much more dangerous than the Green Party) They are the communist party, who want to overthrow the government........And they have their own presidential candidates and want to destroy the Democratic Party.

RandomNumbers

(19,261 posts)
39. Wow, Galindo types are POISON to the Democratic Party
Sat May 16, 2026, 12:37 PM
Yesterday

I don't know much about her opponent but based on his statements quoted here, we need more of this - particularly in any district that isn't bright blue.

https://www.tpr.org/government-politics/2026-05-14/democratic-runoff-in-texas-35th-congressional-district-roiled-by-comments-about-jews-and-israel

Galindo:

“I think that if ICE is not eradicated completely, then what we're setting ourselves up for is an AI surveillance prison state. So, if you want to criticize Israel, you get thrown into that warehouse on the East Side,” she said. She also said about ICE: “This is an Israeli occupation of America.”


^^^ (setting aside the blatant antisemitism for now) That's just nutso ... with reasonable people back in charge. We never expected how badly Congress would roll over for the evil that is Trump ... and yes some insane, CT-like shit *IS* happening ... but for all DUers aren't thrilled with centrists, normal sane people like Schumer wouldn't create the dystopia she is predicting.

Meanwhile, her opponent on ICE :
Garcia defended ICE’s mission but said he opposed some of its tactics.

“ICE has a particular job, making sure that they're stopping the flow of illegal drugs coming into our communities, making sure that cartels are not operating inside of our borders, but also to stop the flow of illegal human smuggling and trafficking. That's the job they should be doing. We know that if we abolish ICE and eliminate it, there's going to be a significant gap in public safety,” he said.

Garcia said ICE went too far in the killing of innocent civilians in Minnesota, referencing Renee Good and Alex Pretti.

“They (ICE) need to be combating actual bad actors, removing them from our community,” he said.


Garcia's position is a lot more normal and will more likely resonate with non-radical voters in his district.

===
To be clear on my own positions: I generally support MOST aims of the so called "progressive Left" -- but I want to MAKE PROGRESS towards those goals, however slowly we have to go, versus GOING BACKWARD by giving away winnable elections by running extremists who sound crazy to THE PEOPLE WHO WILL ACTUALLY VOTE.

LeftInTX

(34,852 posts)
43. She has said some real nutso things:
Sat May 16, 2026, 12:53 PM
Yesterday

"San Antonio is owned by Zionists" (WTF???)

If you are familiar with San Antonio, I have no idea what she is getting at. No idea.
She did complain about John Hagee, who is a Christian Zionist, but he is not politically influential here at all. He does have a large private school etc, but in terms of the city, he's not part of the scene at all...LOL He certainly doesn't have influence on the city. He does not invest in the city. He doesn't even like the city...He lives in another county.

"The Church of Satan killed Jesus".
WTF????? I don't even know what that means.....

question everything

(52,379 posts)
49. This is scary. I have never heard of this faction. I think that only Democrats should be allowed to
Sat May 16, 2026, 01:04 PM
Yesterday

compete in Democratic primaries. No PSL and not the Democratic Socialists

Of course, the precedence was established when a non Democrat was allowed to compete in the Democratic Presidential primaries. Twice.

muriel_volestrangler

(106,581 posts)
56. I can't find where the connection between Galindo and "PSL" has been made, apart in that post
Sat May 16, 2026, 02:30 PM
22 hrs ago

It's the only meaningful result I get in a web search for Galindo and "PSL" or "Party for Socialism and Liberation" (which is a real thing - communist). I can't find anything in this election, or her previous try at a city council seat, saying she was a member of any organized faction or party.

Having said that, Galindo's suggestion that her opponent should perhaps be arrested for treason is nutty (she claims he's received funding from AIPAC; he says he hasn't; and while I detest AIPAC, it's not treasonous).

And now I've found the quote that I think someone pointed to in another thread, and this is straight-up antisemitism, so she needs to be defeated and never heard of in politics again:

“It’s all very complex. But, it’s my perception that Zionist billionaires run the world,” Galindo said. “They’re of all religions. But, especially Israeli, Jewish billionaire Zionists who disproportionately and factually own a lot of Hollywood production studios, media companies and banks.”

Galindo told the Current she has “no hatred toward any group,” except the “billionaire Zionists and their puppets.”

https://www.sacurrent.com/news/san-antonio-congressional-candidate-maureen-galindo-faces-antisemitism-accusations/

LeftInTX

(34,852 posts)
63. She hangs with them. I've seen pics. I've seen too many people hanging with them and holding their signs.
Sat May 16, 2026, 11:44 PM
13 hrs ago

She also stated she wanted a place to castrate people...

On Instagram Wednesday Galindo wrote that, if elected, she would “write legislation so that all Zionism and support of Zionism is undoubtedly Anti-Semitic, since it’s Zionists harming the Semites.” The candidate added that she would turn a local immigrant detention center “into a prison for American Zionists and former ICE officers for human trafficking,” adding in parentheses, “It will also be a castration processing center for pedophiles which will probably be most of the Zionists.”



https://www.jta.org/2026/05/15/politics/talarico-wont-campaign-with-democratic-house-candidate-who-wants-to-open-a-prison-for-american-zionists?fbclid=IwY2xjawR2GS5leHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFqaEpPYWtkNlBUaHllUUduc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHqliQoZ63uh_OOV_gwpOdOLsLqUipGQdzYsFJ3gVnkGqHBghctvY-CuWXf4o_aem_7bO8LIKJGKWMIj-298hb6g





You can see their logo on the signs. She is speaking, but is holding the stake of a sign in the first pic
In the second pic you can see her maroon sweater holding the sign.

Very few people "identify" as running for a candidate in PSL The "belong to it", but they don't run as PSL candidates. As a matter of fact, one woman in the image is a member and she runs under various parties: Green and Democratic Party.

Our City Council races are strictly non-partisan.

Nov 2024's PSL presidential candidates ran as write-ins in Texas.

muriel_volestrangler

(106,581 posts)
64. Thank you
Sun May 17, 2026, 04:30 AM
8 hrs ago

Yes, I can see the PSL name on those signs. It's the antisemitic stuff which is the worst (ironically, the stuff on the signs looks reasonable; but that's why they use it for the publicity material, I guess). What she's saying is getting madder by the minute - if it's getting known in the local media, surely she'll go down in flames?

LeftInTX

(34,852 posts)
65. The party in general cannot control.who runs
Sun May 17, 2026, 10:28 AM
2 hrs ago

based on previous party affiliation. However, it certainly should be exposed!!

The problem with PSL is that the Democratic Party doesn't have statement regarding PSL. The Democratic Party is against competing parties like the GOP, Libertarian and Green Parties, but hangs with PSL at times and wonders why they get stabbed in the back?

PSL is not the DSA. DSA is not a political party. DSA is a PAC.

PSL is partly responsible for defeating Kamala in 2024. PSL wants to abolish the Democratic Party. Heck, they want to abolish the USA.

The Democratic Party should condemn them

carpetbagger

(5,516 posts)
7. I watched it
Sat May 16, 2026, 01:54 AM
Yesterday

It is Netanyahu, and the Israeli voters who uphold his rule. And we're in a war because of him.

The conflation of opposition to Israeli policy with antisemitism is to me personally a sick joke. My own child opposes those policies and is a practicing Jew

Maher is an edge lord.

question everything

(52,379 posts)
8. And what was the excuse of the torch marchers in 2017 in Charlottesville
Sat May 16, 2026, 02:07 AM
Yesterday

chanting: Jews will not replace us?

RandySF

(86,135 posts)
12. You're assuming people are sophisticated enough to separate Judaism and a government policy
Sat May 16, 2026, 03:00 AM
Yesterday

They’re not and they’re lumping together and let honest the DSA and other groups aren’t lifting a finger.

AZProgressive

(29,971 posts)
13. I don't see DSA or other groups as responsible
Sat May 16, 2026, 03:23 AM
Yesterday

They likely oppose Israel's assault on Gaza and Palestinian territories as well as Iran or Lebanon but I don't think they're lumping them together. There are people on the left or "far left" that are Jewish.

There may be people that think Democrats shouldn't associate with Hasan Piker. I feel similar about Bill Maher but I will still vote for politicians that appear on his show same goes for Piker.

RandySF

(86,135 posts)
14. Piker is a pig and his comments and actions prove it.
Sat May 16, 2026, 03:25 AM
Yesterday

I don’t like Maher but they’re not equivalent.

JI7

(93,880 posts)
15. We are at war because of TRUMP and the idiots that supported him and didn't support Harris
Sat May 16, 2026, 03:42 AM
Yesterday

lostincalifornia

(5,518 posts)
35. and those folks say this war with Iran is all because of Israel, that speaks
Sat May 16, 2026, 12:19 PM
Yesterday

volumes.

As you said trump is the president, and trump is responsible for this.

It was trump who choose to unilaterally walk away from the Iran nuclear deal. It was trump who ordered the bombings of Iran twice in the middle of negotiations with Iran, even after saying after the first bombing the destroyed Iran’s nuclear capability. And not once have I heard a reporter ask trump after he says our main objective is to prevent Iran from getting a nuclear weapon, ask him, “I thought you said we destroyed their nuclear capability”?

The same thing was said after 9/11, blaming Israel for 9/11, though at that time that was a minority and it didn’t gain any traction. However, Cynthia McKinney at the time exploited it without the buffer of Israel, but directly spreading antisemitic tropes and conspiracy theories directly targeting Jews.

After October 7th a similar pattern followed, blaming Israel for what happened on October 7th, and the student protests around the country not only highlighted that, but extrapolated that to Jews in general.

Blaming Israel for all the woes in the Middle East and beyond for quite a few people is a portal for them to blame the Jews in a not so subtle way.











yardwork

(69,633 posts)
22. Opposition to Israel's actions is not the problem.
Sat May 16, 2026, 09:45 AM
Yesterday

The problem is laid out very well in several posts in this thread.

Since your child is Jewish you might want to find out more about what's happening right now because all Jewish people are being targeted, and it doesn't matter that most of them are opposed to Israel's actions.

I'm deadly serious about this. I'm speaking as a parent to a parent.

gulliver

(14,071 posts)
10. Jewphobia is truly starting to resemble rabies
Sat May 16, 2026, 02:56 AM
Yesterday

Jewphobia is actually disgusting and sad in the same way rabies is. You watch a video of, say, a rabid young fox attacking a human being. You are looking at a really sick animal. It's frightening and pathetic at the same time. Foxes are normally shy, but a rabid fox just loses all control. It's fox brain is destroyed. It's nothing but a biting, attacking, drooling, terrified, angry little robot.

Maher didn't get any real laughs in this clip, and he was actually somewhat mocking the few audience members who laughed. It was uncomfortable.

Maher actually realizes, as I think the audience did, that this "horseshoe" Jewphobia we're seeing in our poor confused world is actually pretty scary and sickening. It's not hypocrisy or mere ignorance or mere stupidity. We wish. A whole lot of the sufferers don't care about hypocrisy or ignorance or stupidity. They're beyond that.

Who really knows what the sick, rabid fox thinks it's fighting when it crawls out of the woods and attacks someone? It's broken. It's not a hypocrite. It's not stupid. It's worse.

Sympthsical

(11,106 posts)
17. It's the adolescent contrarian to tankie to antisemite pipeline
Sat May 16, 2026, 07:42 AM
Yesterday

And it's so banal and tedious, it's almost unremarkable in how normalized it's become.

It's interesting because antisemitism doesn't seem to work in the same way usual racism does. Generally, people are frequently raised racist. It's handed down from parents, or communities, or cultures. Racism is something many people have to educate themselves out of, to grow past, to put in an effort to get their heads and their hearts right.

Antisemitism isn't like that. It is increasingly something people grow into. It is taught, it is in academia, it is increasingly considered a progressive play somehow.

There are people in my life I see less and interact with less because over the past few years, they've just morphed into full-on antisemitic. I don't mean they criticize Israel or Netanyahu. I mean they demand American Jews explain themselves. See no problem with the harassment they endure. Think anything bad that happens to them is deserved and explainable.

I've seen people I liked well and admired who went from having an unremarkable if a bit dull and trite critical anti-West posture devolve into full on "If a Jew is involved, it's probably their fault." And they don't hear themselves. They don't see themselves. They do not realize that they've been indoctrinated into thinking patterns straight out of the 19th Century.

They don't see it, don't hear it, cannot be deprogrammed from it.

It's sad, but also bizarre. Because I often wrestle with that lack of self-awareness. I just do not get how they do not hear themselves. And these are people who are hypersensitive to racial offense when any other group is involved. But as soon as Jews are on the table, it's "Well, you have to understand why people want to harass, beat, or kill them . . ."

And they're here. Almost daily I see something on DU that's along this vein. And it's just kind of . . . there now. It's part of being a Democrat. These bigots are tolerated and part of our coalition apparently. "Because Israel!"

I'm watching the direction of the party on this. I watch as they flirt with letting the Hasan Pikers of the world in. And I'll say this simply without threat or ornament - when the Pikers are let in, I'll be out. And that's just how that will go.

yardwork

(69,633 posts)
21. Well said.
Sat May 16, 2026, 09:18 AM
Yesterday

It's the effect of sustained brainwashing aimed at certain populations - especially young progressive white and Asian people and the earthy-crunchy flavor of boomers. My kids and I are either part of or adjacent to these groups so I'm seeing this firsthand.

It makes sense that the billionaires (including but not limited to Putin, Musk, Zuckerberg, Bezos, Thiel, Mercer, Koch) would turn their propaganda now toward some of the historically most reliable Democratic voting blocs. They've totally brainwashed rural and conservative whites. Time to expand the reach.

I saw it begin in the early 2010s (when Putin established his dictatorship and attacked Crimea while the world yawned). DSA and other supposedly grass roots groups suddenly got huge influxes of cash and expanded exponentially. The atrocities and economic crash caused by W. Bush created fertile ground.

I noticed something about DSA and the other groups that started as an uneasy feeling and became very clear as a pattern. Local chapters that tried to focus on immediate local concerns, like organizing food drives or protecting immigrants, got derailed. The focus kept being disrupted and diffused into vague ideas and lots of infighting.

It became clear to me on October 8, 2023 that there was something very coordinated going on and it was aimed at defeating Biden and putting Trump back in the White House.

I have a personality that is skeptical (to the point of misanthropy) and I see patterns. I'm not very susceptible to emotional appeals so this particular flavor of propaganda doesn't work on me.

The billionaires have a lot of time and money. They will continue to come up with ways to destroy democracy by fooling voters into electing puppets. They want us all dead. They want a little world of extraordinarily wealthy compounds serviced by robots and slaves.

question everything

(52,379 posts)
23. Thank you. It was determined that many of the pro Palestinians groups that appeared immediately
Sat May 16, 2026, 09:51 AM
Yesterday

after the massacre have been supported by Qatar. They were ready.

betsuni

(29,276 posts)
32. The propaganda tailored to flip voters on the left against Democrats got better and more effective.
Sat May 16, 2026, 10:55 AM
Yesterday

Only need that 1% in swing states.

Joinfortmill

(21,666 posts)
30. Yup. I married a Jewish man and had two children...
Sat May 16, 2026, 10:51 AM
Yesterday

They carry a very historic Jewish last name. My son worries a lot about his two children, who are young adults, because of their name. It is what it is and as it has always been. Stay safe out there.

LeftInTX

(34,852 posts)
31. You should let your DNC rep know.
Sat May 16, 2026, 10:53 AM
Yesterday

Go to your state party's website and they will list their DNC reps with contact info. Each state has numerous DNC reps.

betsuni

(29,276 posts)
18. Anti-establishment anti-capitalist/West types put them in the Establishment binder
Sat May 16, 2026, 08:11 AM
Yesterday

and nothing can change their minds because they are 100% sure they are right. It is black or white. No thinking, only emotion. Anything else is not just wrong but immoral and disgusting.

biocube

(261 posts)
20. I'm sorry...in which those examples are we actually funding the atrocities?
Sat May 16, 2026, 09:01 AM
Yesterday

The comparison is ****.

BH liberal

(142 posts)
24. The Jews face...
Sat May 16, 2026, 10:30 AM
Yesterday

a triple whammy that separates them from most other groups. They are not only identified as a religious sect, but also as a separate race and as closed-ranked economic conspirators to boot. In other words, they attract a whole host of bigots and other haters.

BH liberal

(142 posts)
29. I have dozens of Jews in my extended family...
Sat May 16, 2026, 10:45 AM
Yesterday

I was referring to how so many others view those they often refer to as "the tribe" and the historical reasons behind the eons of persecution the Jewish people have faced.

BH liberal

(142 posts)
27. Maher has gone over to the Dark Side of the Farce...
Sat May 16, 2026, 10:38 AM
Yesterday

I used to defend him, but he lost me when he asserted that Donald Trump wasn't the guy he plays at his rallies and press conferences. How effin' blind!

yardwork

(69,633 posts)
45. Maher is an asshole but even a blind squirrel sometimes finds a nut.
Sat May 16, 2026, 12:54 PM
Yesterday

Hatred of Jewish people is a real problem even though Maher sees it too.

walkingman

(11,145 posts)
33. US military/economic support for Israel is the primary issue in present day political debate.
Sat May 16, 2026, 11:39 AM
Yesterday

Ethnostates are racists by design - it is always a no-win situation.

yardwork

(69,633 posts)
42. Every other nation in the middle east is also an ethnostate.
Sat May 16, 2026, 12:52 PM
Yesterday

Why is Israel singled out?

Saudi Arabia is an "ethnostate" and also a brutal dictatorship ruled by a monarchy. We now know for sure that Saudi Arabia planned and executed the attacks on 9/11 to get the U.S. to attack their rival, Iraq.

Saudi Arabia's wealth depends on selling oil, so they have a strong incentive to use their billions to get Republicans elected in the U.S., who then tear down any efforts to develop alternative fuels. Look at the glee with which Musk and Trump destroyed the green revolution.

Why is Israel singled out? Think about it.

walkingman

(11,145 posts)
58. I personally wish that Democrats and Republicans worried as much about our own state of affairs
Sat May 16, 2026, 03:03 PM
22 hrs ago

at home as they seem to about anti-Semitism. The United States was founded an apartheid regime, with institutionalized inequality on the basis of race, gender and class, and is governed as an oligarchy.

Power is passed back and forth between two parties, both of which are run by rich people and committed to the interests of capital over the interests of "the people".

US military/economic interests in the Middle East seem to be far more important to the electorate than our own state of affairs. The Israeli, Gaza, Iranian issues is a political wedge issue with deep roots in religious and racial prejudice.

yardwork

(69,633 posts)
60. I am worried about our state of affairs.
Sat May 16, 2026, 03:23 PM
22 hrs ago

Hatred of Jewish people in the U.S. is our state of affairs. Attacks on Jewish people here are way up. Antisemitism was used as a tool to get people to vote against Kamala Harris. She was called Killer Kamala.

The problem is right here.

Response to question everything (Original post)

PCIntern

(28,579 posts)
37. Stole land?
Sat May 16, 2026, 12:26 PM
Yesterday

Of course. The same could be said for any established nation in the world, but Israel in particular gets on your last nerve?

DU rules prohibit me from continuing to state what your post merits.

BH liberal

(142 posts)
38. The majority of civilized governments voted...
Sat May 16, 2026, 12:36 PM
Yesterday

after the last straw that was the Holocaust to set aside a homeland for Jews. They did not invade and conquer; they had permission from the U.N. to occupy the land. Personally, I would have preferred to see the gift of Texas from We, the People. Would have been a win-win.

PCIntern

(28,579 posts)
40. If the Jews had been given the planet Mars,
Sat May 16, 2026, 12:43 PM
Yesterday

In 50 years we’d have had it up and running and everyone would be showing up and saying “That’s ours and we want it back!”

I’m tired of the old tropes and lots of folks nodding along. Don’t think Israel is great? Go live a progressive existence in an Arab country and see how long you’d last.

SSJVegeta

(3,095 posts)
52. The USA doesnt give billions of dollars and arrest people for protected free speech on behalf of the other countries.
Sat May 16, 2026, 01:34 PM
23 hrs ago

Last edited Sat May 16, 2026, 05:26 PM - Edit history (1)

To criticize this policy with Israel -and Israel in this context, isnt "inconsistent." It is criticizing US Foreign policy. If the US gave nearly close the amount of weapons and financing to China, that same criticism would also apply.

Bill Maher is a fucking idiot.

themaguffin

(5,412 posts)
53. There are some differences
Sat May 16, 2026, 01:49 PM
23 hrs ago

Yeah, there may be some people, but most are pissed at Bibi and rightfully so.

That's not the case with the tiki torch crowd though.

Pisces

(6,309 posts)
59. Bill you are completely off base with so much of your rants on Israel. The decimation of Gaza and now Lebanon
Sat May 16, 2026, 03:05 PM
22 hrs ago

should not be seen as the lesser of two evils. The comparing or “What aboutism “ of other countries is a ridiculous argument. We shouldn’t condemn bad actions because others are just as bad or worse??
How about Israelis marching and shouting “Death to Arabs” ??

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/may/14/israel-nationalists-jerusalem-day-march-anniversary-protest

Or the story today where Palestinians have to demolish their own homes on their on dime to make way for a biblical amusement park??

Hamas is evil but the poor people being displaced did not ask for this. Just like I didn’t ask for Trump to blow up Venezuelan boats, or for him to bomb a school in Iran. Bill Maher can not see clearly because he is so indoctrinated in his support for Israel. I do not like the antisemitism that has been happening around the world. It is ugly and misplaced. Netanyahu and his govt is to blame for the atrocities being committed today, just like Trump and his admin are responsible for the nonsense going on right now. This never ending violence will continue to breed more hate and violence. This is a fact.

Maru Kitteh

(31,993 posts)
62. As a Liberal, I fucking can't stand him. He's a pig - with apologies to pigs and
Sat May 16, 2026, 05:33 PM
19 hrs ago

any any object or animal resembling a pig.

Serously. Fuck that guy.


Latest Discussions»General Discussion»New Rule: No Jews, No New...