Washington Watch Articles From 2026
When Establishment Officials Aren’t Pampered by Establishment Media
Two July podcasts hosted by progressive media stars and featuring leading Democratic lawmakers brought home the deep disconnect that exists between the way establishment politicians and media operate and the way both come to speak about the Middle East and the realities that exist in that region.
El-Sayed’s Win in Michigan Is the Most Consequential Election This Year
In what, I believe, will be seen as this year’s most significant election; Dr Abdul El-Sayed won a victory in Michigan’s Democratic Senate primary. It was a close contest—a nail-biter, as we say—but it was an important win that marks a watershed moment in US politics.
It’s Dangerous to Conflate Criticism of Israel with Antisemitism
Does criticizing actions of the Israeli government or the behavior of its prime minister fuel antisemitism? Despite the stretch of logic required to make this argument and the danger its bizarre conflation presents to American Jews, some US pro-Israel organizations are working overtime to establish the case that criticizing Israel puts American Jews at risk. Their view on this matter has now been echoed by Benjamin Netanyahu who, before leaving Israel for his meeting with President Trump, used an interview with an American TV network to level this very charge against New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani.
The Enduring Legacy of John Esposito
Dr. John Esposito Helped Millions Understand and Appreciate Islam.
US Consensus on Israel Dead
Evidence keeps piling up that the long-claimed bipartisan consensus on US support for Israel is dead. Almost daily there are signs that Israeli behavior and the heavy-handed tactics used by the pro-Israel lobby to browbeat elected officials into unquestioning support for Israel are being rejected not only by Democratic voters but increasingly by elected Democrats as well. Events this past week make this clear.
Rahm Emanuel’s Speech: Not All It Was Hyped to Be
Several observations can be made regarding Rahm Emanuel’s recent speech at Tel Aviv University: what he said and didn’t say, and what impact (if any) his words might have.
The Establishment Is Panicking
It’s fascinating to watch how some elements of the Democratic Party establishment respond to insurgencies.
New York Democrats Show AIPAC the Door
For the past half century, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) largely held sway in elections in both political parties. They threatened and intimidated those who opposed them and, when a critic of Israel was defeated, they boasted of victory, holding it up for others as a lesson. Last week’s Democratic primary elections in New York City, in which three insurgent critics of Israeli policies defeated AIPAC-endorsed candidates, point to what may be the end of an era for the pro-Israel lobby.
Israel’s Out of Control & It’s Not Just Netanyahu
When looking at today’s Middle East, it is important to recognize that Israel is completely out of control, and no one has the will to rein them in.
Immigrant Heritage Month: Remembering What Really Makes America Great
June is National Immigration Heritage Month, a time to celebrate the diverse peoples and cultures that have made America great. This year–when not only immigration and cultural diversity are being challenged, but also the complex history of our country is being erased–it is more important than ever that we stop and examine the record of who we are and how we got to where we are as a country and an American people.
The Middle East Needs Political Solutions, Not More Violence.
Back when the Obama administration was negotiating a nuclear agreement with Iran, I asked National Security Council officials: “Why are you expending all of your economic leverage, and political and diplomatic resources on stopping Iran from developing a bomb they don’t have (and even if they did, could never use), while these same resources could be mobilized to pressure Iran to end its meddlesome behaviors that are destabilizing countries across the region?”
The Sub-Plots Behind the Democratic Party’s “Autopsy” Drama
A number of sub-plots undergird the drama that erupted over the Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin’s release of an incomplete “autopsy” of the 2024 election.
GOP Reacts to Trump Granting a Free Pass to Insurrectionists and Himself
During the past week, the Trump administration announced three separate but connected decisions that are so outrageous they may lead to his comeuppance. Collectively, they reward lawlessness and undermine the very foundations of our democracy.
US Middle East Policies Making a Bad Situation Worse
One reason why US policy in the Middle East has been so problematic is because policymakers refuse to consider its impact on the needs of Arab people. With Israel, it’s a different story. Over-attentiveness to Israeli concerns coupled with the lack of sensitivity to what Arabs think about our actions has led to deep fractures between Arabs and the US and within the Arab World.
Is It Antisemitic to Charge Israel with Genocide?
Is it antisemitic to say that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza? More generally, is it “hurtful and insensitive” for someone to acknowledge the suffering that Israel has inflicted on the Palestinian people? In recent weeks, actions by two different institutions of higher learning brought these two questions to the forefront.
American Voters Want a Change in Policy Towards Israel
Recent polls of US voters by several national public opinion research companies demonstrate that there is a steep decline in overall support for Israel. For example, in February of this year, Gallup showed that when asked with whom they most sympathized, 41% of respondents said Palestinians as opposed to only 36% who named Israel. This stands in marked contrast with results to the same question asked by Gallup in 2023 in which 54% of respondents said they sympathized more with Israel while 36% said they were more sympathetic to Palestinians. Then, just a few weeks ago, Pew released a poll in which 60% of respondents had an unfavorable view of Israel.
Celebrating Arab American Heritage Month
It’s Arab American Heritage month. And as it’s the 250th anniversary of the United States of America, it’s a good time to reflect on the history of Arab immigration to America and the community’s more than two and one-half centuries of continuous presence in this country.
Democrats Move to Ban “Dark Money” From Primaries
For decades, frustrated reformers within the Democratic National Committee have fought for changes in party operations—particularly more financial transparency, accountability, and internal democracy. This past weekend’s meeting in New Orleans represented a hopeful step in the right direction.
If the Iran War Continues, What Will Trump Do?
With the apparent collapse of the US talks with Iran, President Donald Trump finds himself in a box with no easy way out. Polls are showing that key elements of his winning electoral coalition are growing weary of the war and frustrated with its domestic consequences. As we approach the midterm elections, Republicans in Congress are also nervous about how voters may react when they go to the polls.
Trump’s Budget is a Conservative’s Dream
Since Donald Trump first broke onto the national political scene, there has been a serious debate among Republicans regarding his commitment to conservative principles. His style was, in a word, flamboyant. His morality was questionable. And his behavior and language were outrageous. None of these behaviors could be identified with the staid “buttoned down” behaviors on display in conservative circles.