Moderate Democrats change their tone on Israel
Some former Biden administration officials argue Netanyahu's actions, rather than the political winds, are driving this change. They blame Netanyahu for hurting Israel's credibility with Democrats in the United States given his aggressive military action. Former President Joe Biden, a self-described Zionist, repeatedly called for a ceasefire between Israel and Palestine, but didn't heed calls from the left for an arms embargo.
'Yes, the political incentives for Democrats are shifting, but even more powerful for many Democrats is the recognition that a blank check approach to Israel, especially with this Israeli government, is fundamentally in contravention to our interests and values,' said Ned Price, who served as State Department spokesperson and deputy to the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations during the Biden administration. 'Bibi's prosecution of this war has, I think, made this shift in many ways irreversible.'
A former Biden administration official, granted anonymity to speak freely about the political stakes, said a majority of Democratic senators voting to block weapons sales to Israel was unimaginable 'even a few months ago' and speaks to 'how badly Netanyahu has played this.' But the official cautioned this crisis is not as politically charged as was the Iraq War for many Democratic voters.
A Gallup poll released this week found approval of Israel's military actions in Gaza had dropped to 8 percent among Democrats, the lowest rating to date. In contrast, 71 percent of Republicans said they approve of Israel's military force in Gaza, up from 66 percent in September.
Changing public opinion on Gaza is most striking in New York, where Democratic primary voters nominated Zohran Mamdani for mayor despite millions of dollars spent attacking him for his anti-Israel posture in a heavily Jewish city. A vast majority believe Israel is committing genocide in Gaza.
Torres noted that 'if there is an erosion of support for Israel in the United States, that's not something the Israeli government should take lightly.'
Chris Coffey, a New York-based consultant and longtime Torres ally said the deepening split between the left and moderate factions of the Democratic party can be attributed to images of starving children, and criticism of Israel's military action 'was a minority view now feels like the majority view in the Democratic party.'
'When (people like) Richie Torres, who is arguably the most pro-Israel Democrat in the country and certainly in New York, are asking tough questions then it's going to cause there to be some reflection and some ripples,' he said. 'It's going to force people to ask tough questions.'
Eric Bazail-Eimil and Joe Gould contributed reporting.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
a minute ago
- Yahoo
Texas redistricting fight goes national as GOP, Dems prepare for more battles over future House maps
The battle over redistricting in Texas has been one of the biggest stories in politics over the past week. Republicans in the Lone Star State are hoping to approve new congressional maps that could secure the GOP five additional seats in the House of Representatives if they're in place in time for the 2026 midterms. That plan is stalled at the moment, however, because dozens of Democrats have fled the state in order to prevent the legislature from having enough representatives present to consider the proposal. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has threatened to have the absent Democrats arrested or remove them from office, but so far, they have remained committed to staying away. The partisan battle over redistricting that started in Texas has quickly spread across the country. Republicans are eyeing other red states where they might be able to collect a few additional seats with new maps. Blue-state Democrats have promised to counterbalance any gains the GOP makes by redrawing the lines in their own states. Here's a breakdown of where things stand in states other than Texas that are considering redistricting and what it might mean if those plans become a reality. Republican targets Ohio Potential swing: Two or three more seats for Republicans Where things stand: Unlike most states, Ohio is obligated to redraw its congressional districts because of unique laws in the state. Republicans already hold 10 of the state's 15 seats in the House, but the experts say they could pick up at least two more by targeting Democratic districts in Akron and Toledo. Some Republicans reportedly have eyes on a third seat in Cincinnati, but state laws could make that a trickier task, according to the Columbus Dispatch. Ohio has until Nov. 30 to approve its new map if it's going to be in use for the 2026 midterms, but there are important procedural deadlines before then that could limit how dramatically the GOP is able to redraw the state's congressional lines. Missouri Potential swing: One additional seat for Republicans Where things stand: Though they haven't officially started the process yet, Republicans in Missouri appear open to redrawing the state's congressional maps. Currently, the GOP holds six of the eight seats in the state. Only one of the remaining districts, centered in Kansas City, seems to be in play. The other Democrat-led district covers St. Louis, an overwhelmingly blue city that would be very difficult to break up into multiple districts because of protections in the Voting Rights Act. Indiana Potential swing: One or two more seats to Republicans Where things stand: Vice President JD Vance traveled to Indianapolis on Thursday to urge Republican Gov. Mike Braun and state legislative leaders to move forward with redistricting. Braun has not publicly committed to redrawing the state's district lines, telling reporters only that he and other GOP leaders had listened to Vance's pitch. Even if Republicans do get fully on board, there's only so much that the GOP can gain in the Hoosier State. They already control seven of the state's nine congressional districts. Both of the remaining districts have a dense Democratic voter base. One of them, which includes a number of Chicago suburbs, could be made more favorable to Republicans with some changes to district lines around the edges, experts told CNN. Flipping the other one would be a much harder task. Incumbent Democrat Andre Carson won that seat, which includes most of Indianapolis, by 40 points in last year's elections. Florida Potential swing: Three additional seats for Republicans Where things stand: The GOP speaker of Florida's House of Representatives announced Thursday that he's forming a select committee to look into redrawing the state's congressional districts with the backing of Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis. Republicans hold 20 of Florida's 28 congressional seats, in part because of a map DeSantis signed into law three years ago that flipped four blue seats to red. Republicans are reportedly eyeing three districts in South Florida, a region that has been steadily shifting toward the GOP in recent years, as their primary targets for increasing their representation in Congress. State laws could complicate their efforts, though. An amendment added to the Florida Constitution in 2010 prohibits lawmakers from drawing districts for partisan gain or in a way that deliberately diminishes the voting power of minorities. Democrat targets California Potential swing: Up to five additional seats for Democrats Where things stand: California Gov. Gavin Newsom has pledged to 'fight fire with fire' and push to redraw his state's maps if Texas goes through with its redistricting plan. Democrats currently hold 43 of California's 52 congressional seats. Newsom shared a map on social media that theoretically could turn the entire state blue, but reports suggest that a draft plan under consideration by state lawmakers would match Texas Republicans by flipping five seats to their favor. Under current law, California's congressional map is drawn by a nonpartisan independent committee. Voters would have to approve any proposal to give that power back to the state Legislature. Newsom has said he's willing to call a special election to put the issue on the ballot, but only if Texas passes its new map first. New York Potential swing: Unclear Where things stand: New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has been equally adamant that her state should redraw its maps to counter the GOP's moves in Texas and elsewhere. Democrats currently hold 19 of the state's 26 congressional seats. Though analysts say there are ways Democrats could manipulate the map in their favor, so far it's uncertain how they might do that or how many seats they'd attempt to flip. Like California, Hochul's state's districts are drawn by an independent commission. But New York's laws would require a much lengthier process to give that ability back to lawmakers, making it highly unlikely that the new maps would be in place in time for next year's midterms. Illinois Potential swing: Unclear Where things stand: Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker has been one of the most prominent faces in the Texas redistricting battle because of his support for Democrats in their effort to block Republicans from approving their new map. Pritzker has said that redistricting in his own state is 'on the table.' Unlike in California and New York, lawmakers in Illinois do have the power to redraw maps on their own. But the GOP only holds three of the state's 17 congressional seats under current district lines, which are among the most heavily gerrymandered in the country, according to rankings by 538. That could make it hard for Democrats to draw up maps that gain them any additional seats. Maryland Potential swing: One additional seat for Democrats Where things stand: The Democratic leader of Maryland's House of Delegates has proposed a bill that would trigger new maps if any other state redistricts outside of the normal 10-year cycle. The problem for Democrats, though, is that they already hold seven of Maryland's eight congressional seats. Turning that lone red district blue could be difficult because any new map would have to navigate around Chesapeake Bay to connect Democratic areas in the west to the Republican-dense areas in the east.
Time Magazine
a minute ago
- Time Magazine
Trump Deploys Federal Officers in D.C.—Even As Crime Falls
President Donald Trump is increasing the presence of federal law enforcement officers in Washington, D.C., in what the White House described as an effort to 'make D.C. safe again,' even as data show that violent crime in the nation's capital is down significantly. The White House on Thursday announced the deployment of federal officers for at least a week, saying after seven days it may 'extend' the operation 'as needed.' 'Washington, DC is an amazing city, but it has been plagued by violent crime for far too long,' White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement to news outlets. 'President Trump has directed an increased presence of federal law enforcement to protect innocent citizens. Starting tonight, there will be no safe harbor for violent criminals in D.C.' The move came after Trump decried what he called 'totally out of control' crime in D.C. and threatened to federalize the city, following news that a Department of Government Efficiency staffer was assaulted during an attempted carjacking. 'We have a capital that's very unsafe,' the President said to reporters earlier this week. 'We have to run D.C.' According to city police data last updated Friday, however, violent crime in D.C. is down by 26% so far this year compared to 2024. And in January, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia said that, last year, total violent crime in D.C. fell to 'the lowest it has been in over 30 years.' D.C., which has a heavily Democratic population and has consistently voted both for Democratic mayors and presidential tickets for decades, has frequently attracted criticism from Trump and other Republican politicians. Some other GOP lawmakers have pushed to establish federal control over the city, which was granted a greater degree of self-governance under the District of Columbia Home Rule Act of 1973, but is still subject to congressional oversight and legislative review. Personnel from various agencies will be involved in the federal law enforcement operation directed by the President, including U.S. Capitol Police, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Drug Enforcement Administration, among others, according to The Associated Press. The increased officer presence will be focused on 'high traffic tourist areas,' POLITICO reported. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms' Washington Field Division said in a post on X early Friday morning that its agents were 'out ensuring that the residents of the District of Columbia are safer this evening,' along with federal law enforcement partners. It mentioned several other federal agency accounts, including from the U.S. Park Police, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the FBI, and the U.S. Marshals. Eleanor Holmes Norton, D.C.'s non-voting representative in Congress, criticized the move to increase federal law enforcement in D.C. in a statement to news outlets. 'Sending in the FBI, DEA, Homeland Security officers and others throughout the District in response to an assault where the existing police presence was sufficient to catch two assailants as they were leaving the scene is a disproportionate overreaction that's offensive to D.C.,' Norton said. 'Moreover, this needless escalation will heighten tensions and potentially make D.C., which achieved its lowest violent crime rate in 30 years in 2024, less safe.'
The Hill
2 minutes ago
- The Hill
Trump removes Billy Long as IRS commisioner less than 2 months after his confirmation
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has removed former U.S. Rep. Billy Long as IRS commissioner less than two months after his confirmation, a White House official said Friday. The official, who was not authorized to speak publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity, did not give a reason for the dismissal. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent will serve as acting commissioner, the official said. The Senate confirmed Long on a 53-44 vote despite Democrats' concerns about the Republican's past work for a firm that pitched a fraud-ridden coronavirus pandemic-era tax break and about campaign contributions he received after Trump nominated him. Before Long's confirmation, the IRS shuffled through four acting leaders, including one who resigned over a deal between the IRS and the Department of Homeland Security to share immigrants' tax data with Immigration and Customs Enforcement and another whose appointment led to a fight between Musk and Bessent. While in Congress, where he served from 2011 to 2023, Long sponsored legislation to get rid of the IRS. A former auctioneer, Long has no background in tax administration. After leaving Congress to mount an unsuccessful bid for the U.S. Senate, Long worked with a firm that distributed the pandemic-era employee retention tax credit. That tax credit program was eventually shut down after then-IRS Commissioner Daniel Werfel determined that it was fraudulent. Democrats called for a criminal investigation into Long's connections to other alleged tax credit loopholes. The lawmakers allege that firms connected to Long duped investors into spending millions of dollars to purchase fake tax credits.
