Latest news with #AIPAC
The Intercept
22-05-2025
- Politics
- The Intercept
Is AIPAC Coming After Ilhan Omar?
A poll sent to constituents in Rep. Ilhan Omar's district has the hallmarks of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee's strategy. The poll, sent earlier this month, first ran through the kinds of questions typical for a campaign testing the waters. The survey started by posing positive and negative questions about Omar and Ryan Winkler, a Democrat and former Minnesota state representative, on run-of-the-mill political grounds: how would voters rate Omar's job performance based on her voting record on affordable housing and healthcare, or Winkler's record on minimum wage and private prison legislation? Screenshots of survey questions about Rep. Ilhan Omar and former State Rep. Ryan Winkler The Intercept Then the poll tipped its hand. In a series of questions about 'statements critics might make about Ilhan Omar,' the survey described Omar as 'one of the most anti-Israel members of Congress,' cited her voting record against a resolution that condemned the October 7 attacks without mentioning Israel's killing of Palestinian civilians, and outlined her opposition to arms sales to Israel, then asked respondents to indicate how concerned this information makes them feel. Then it asked respondents whether Winkler being backed by 'a right-wing, pro-Israel group that is funded by Trump-supporting billionaires and has endorsed dozens of Republican members of Congress who support Trump and his MAGA agenda' raises any concerns. Screenshots of survey questions about Rep. Ilhan Omar and former State Rep. Ryan Winkler The Intercept Screenshots of the survey viewed by the Intercept showed no clear indication of who paid for the poll. Political operators familiar with AIPAC tacitcs, however, see the poll as a sign that AIPAC is laying the groundwork for challenging Omar in the midterm elections next year. The group typically tests the waters by fielding polls before they commit to a race. By asking voters how they feel about Winkler even after getting the negative message that he is backed by a 'right-wing, pro-Israel group' — a group like AIPAC — the group can learn whether backing him would do more harm than good in the district, and how much ground it would have to make up if voters viewed such a fact negatively. 'This is absolutely what they do,' said Usamah Andrabi, communications director for Justice Democrats, which has backed candidates who are critical of U.S. military support for Israel, including Omar. 'They come into these districts early and poll the candidates they've already been talking to, that they're already interested in, which in this case is seemingly Ryan Winkler, so they can take it back to their donors and ask for millions of dollars,' he said. 'This is absolutely their playbook.' A source familiar with the race who agreed to speak on condition of anonymity confirmed from multiple sources that AIPAC is planning to be active in targeting Omar this cycle and has been in talks with Winkler who was reportedly waiting on the results of an AIPAC poll to make his decision. Winkler, AIPAC, and United Democracy Project, AIPAC's super PAC, did not respond to a request for comment. The survey is the first public sign that AIPAC still has its eye on ousting progressive members of Congress who criticize U.S. military funding for Israel and Israeli human rights abuses in Palestine. AIPAC spent more than $100 million on primaries last cycle, including more than $25 million to oust Squad members Reps. Cori Bush and Jamaal Bowman. The spending came from United Democracy Project and AIPAC's regular political action committee, AIPAC PAC. In the 2020 cycle, AIPAC, endorsed more than 100 Republican members of Congress who voted to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. 'Our district has never been for sale. Special interest groups, including AIPAC, have spent millions trying to unseat me,' Omar said in a statement to The Intercept. 'If what AIPAC was lobbying for was truly popular, they wouldn't need to spend millions to smear those they disagree with.' 'If what AIPAC was lobbying for was truly popular, they wouldn't need to spend millions to smear those they disagree with. Voters in my district want to see leaders who are fighting to get big money out of politics, not leaders who want to see our elections turned into auctions. I have proudly earned the support of my constituents every election and plan to do so again by fighting for the people I represent, not special interests backed by Republican money.' After its victories last cycle, AIPAC is revamping its efforts to remove every member of Congress who is critical of Israel, Andrabi of Justice Democrats said. 'That's the Congress that Citizens United has been building for a decade and a half now,' Andrabi said. 'A spineless Congress that only does the bidding of billionaires and corporate super PACs. I think we are seeing this cycle especially just how fed up voters are with that sort of Congress,' he said. 'Democrats are more unpopular in Congress than they ever have been, and it's because people see them as more dedicated to the bottom lines of their billionaire donors than to the livelihoods and liberties of their constituents — that's because they see how much money is being spent in these primaries.' 'This is not just about Israel and Palestine,' Andrabi continued. 'It's really about being able to control politicians and make them do what you want. We should be opposing any lobby from being able to do that.' AIPAC typically runs polling in districts before it jumps into a race. Last cycle, the group officially stayed out of the Democratic primary challenge against Rep. Summer Lee, but The Intercept reported that AIPAC had tried and failed to recruit two candidates to challenge Lee. AIPAC was reportedly in contact with Bhavini Patel, who eventually decided to run against Lee, but did not officially back her. Part of AIPAC's strategy is to attack candidates who are critical of Israel on other points — like claiming that Omar is antisemitic or criticizing her for calling to dismantle the Minneapolis Police Department in the wake of the police killing of George Floyd. Both of those claims appeared in the survey. None of the survey questions specifically asked about voters' own support for Israel's war on Gaza, a ceasefire, or U.S. military support for Israel, both of which a growing number of Democratic voters oppose. 'AIPAC's number-one requirement for endorsing a candidate is how empty of a vessel can this empty suit really be?' There's a reason those questions weren't in the survey, Andrabi said. The survey described Omar as 'one of the most anti-Israel members of Congress' and criticized her for voting against a resolution that condemned the October 7 attacks without mentioning Israel's killing of Palestinian civilians. 'AIPAC's number-one requirement for endorsing a candidate is how empty of a vessel can this empty suit really be?' Andrabi said. 'One consistency we can see amongst recruited primary challengers from AIPAC is they are people who don't stand for anything, don't believe in anything, and are most willing to be bought and sold by corporate lobbies and right-wing super PACs.' Other questions in the survey that nodded to AIPAC's potential involvement painted Omar as antisemitic and asked how constituents felt about Omar's 'extreme positions.' 'Even after being rebuked by former Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Democratic leaders for her antisemitic language, Ilhan Omar has continued to take extreme positions and opposed legislation that aims to right growing anti-semitism in this country,' the survey said. (The question referred to Democrats who attacked Omar after she criticized spending by the pro-Israel lobby in U.S. elections.) Then, the survey asked respondents to rate how concerned they were about Omar as a candidate. This is not the first time AIPAC has explored a primary challenge against Omar. During her primary challenge in 2022, AIPAC funneled $350,000 to a group backing her challenger, Don Samuels. The money was not reported until after the race. Pro-Israel donors backed Samuels in another challenge against Omar last cycle, The Intercept reported.
Ya Libnan
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Ya Libnan
The fuss over Qatar's gift makes no sense
The ruler of Qatar Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani is shown at Qatar Economic Forum during his opening speech By : Ya Libnan Editorial Board The uproar over Qatar's recent gift to the United States is unwarranted and unnecessarily politicized. The controversy raises a deeper question: why is this generous gesture from a close ally being twisted into a political issue? For over two centuries, America has accepted thoughtful and iconic gifts from its international partners—gifts that have helped shape the nation's image and soul. The Resolute Desk in the Oval Office, gifted by Queen Victoria in 1880, remains a symbol of enduring ties with the United Kingdom. Can we imagine New York without the Statue of Liberty from France? Or springtime in Washington, D.C. without the cherry blossoms gifted by Japan? So why is the gift from Qatar —a custom-made, American-built aircraft offered to President Donald J. Trump , now serving his second term—being treated differently? According to reports, some voices in Washington, allegedly influenced by pro-Israel lobbying groups such as AIPAC, have attempted to stir opposition in Congress. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is said to be concerned that this gift may increase Qatar's influence in Washington. But this narrative conveniently ignores Qatar's long-standing, deep-rooted alliance with the United States. Qatar hosts Al Udeid Air Base , the largest U.S. military installation in the Middle East , and has been a critical player in U.S. diplomacy for decades. It is a country that has repeatedly proven its value as a partner—whether in counterterrorism efforts, humanitarian diplomacy, or regional stability. Let's also be clear: this gift is not about foreign influence. It is about shared values and mutual respect . The aircraft in question is designed and built in America , and is the same model used by U.S. presidents. Far from seeking to gain leverage, Qatar is celebrating American innovation—and honoring its strategic relationship with the United States. Qatar's Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani , addressed the controversy directly during the Fifth Qatar Economic Forum: 'I am not comparing this gift to the Statue of Liberty… It is not something we are doing to buy influence. It is our duty to help when help is needed.' At the same time, Qatar has committed to investing $1.2 trillion in the U.S. economy —a move that will create American jobs and strengthen our industries. It has also placed the largest single order ever for Boeing aircraft , directly benefiting American workers and manufacturers. This is not a moment for political games. It is a time to show appreciation for an ally that is standing with America in real, tangible ways. Turning away a gift like this would be both diplomatically tone-deaf and economically self-defeating. Let's stop pretending this is about ethics or influence. This is about whether the United States can still tell the difference between a friend and a foe . Qatar has proven itself to be a friend—repeatedly, consistently, and at great cost. President Trump knows that. So should the rest of Washington . Did America forget how to be grateful and say Thank you ?
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Top Pennsylvania lawmakers took $119K in gifts, trips, and more from those seeking to influence them in 2024
Spotlight PA is an independent, nonpartisan, and nonprofit newsroom producing investigative and public-service journalism that holds power to account and drives positive change in Pennsylvania. Sign up for our free newsletters. HARRISBURG — Top Pennsylvania politicians accepted roughly $119,000 in gifts and hospitality from groups seeking to influence government last year, including several pricey trips to Israel and Taiwan. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now State law places no limits on what lobbyists and other interested parties can give to commonwealth employees or holders of public office. The only requirement is that they report any gift worth more than $250, and any travel, meals, and lodging worth more than $650, on annual forms they file with the State Ethics Commission. Public officials are supposed to decline gifts if accepting them will influence their votes or positions. Under both legislative chambers' ethics rules, state lawmakers are also barred from accepting cash gifts from a lobbyist or anyone else seeking a specific legislative outcome. However, there aren't many ways to enforce these rules, and there's a loophole that leads to underreporting. Generally, lawmakers police themselves. Spotlight PA reviewed the 2024 disclosures of 35 top Pennsylvania officials: state House and Senate leaders from both parties, the governor, lieutenant governor, and the commonwealth's three row officers. Of the gifts and hospitality that top lawmakers reported accepting, roughly 30% covered travel abroad by three people. State House Majority Leader Matt Bradford (D., Montgomery), among the most powerful policymakers in the divided state Capitol, received a weeklong trip to Israel in December from the American Israel Education Foundation, which he said on his ethics report was worth $14,700. The foundation is a charitable affiliate of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), a lobby that advocates for U.S. support for Israel, and is the biggest private sponsor of congressional travel, according to Politico. Critics of U.S. support for the country argue these trips help build a pro-Israeli consensus even as the nation's assault on Gaza has killed more than 50,000 people. A spokesperson for Bradford confirmed the trip, but otherwise did not offer any comment. Marshall Wittmann, a spokesperson for AIPAC, said the itinerary included 'meeting with Israeli political leaders from the government and opposition, briefings with regional experts, and visits to Israel's borders.' The trips, Wittmann added, 'help educate American political leaders about the importance of the U.S.-Israel relationship through firsthand experiences in Israel.' State Sen. Camera Bartolotta (R., Washington), who serves as caucus secretary, and state Rep. Tim O'Neal (R., Washington), who is his caucus' whip, also accepted trips. The two traveled to Taiwan on the dime of the country's government through its New York City consulate. Hospitality costs for both of them came to a combined $21,000. In a statement, O'Neal told Spotlight PA he was invited and traveled to Taiwan in December 2024 'as part of a working group of state legislators from the United States, as other legislators have done in past years.' While there, he said he 'met with various government and business officials and worked to build upon the already strong relations between Pennsylvania and Taiwan.' He added that he has already 'helped initiate a conversation between a Pennsylvanian business and one in Taiwan that may lead to a mutually beneficial economic relationship.' Bartolotta confirmed the trip, saying it allowed her to learn about a top American trade partner without costing Pennsylvania taxpayers. 'It's good to have good relationships everywhere,' she said, adding, 'I don't think my taxpayers have to worry about Taiwanese taxpayer money being used.' The Taiwanese government is a frequent sponsor of state legislators' travel. Over the years, it's paid tens of thousands of dollars to bring Democrats and Republicans to the island nation east of mainland China. At least four lawmakers, for instance, went in 2023. The organizers of both the Taiwan and Israel trips declined to provide a full list of attendees. Richard Briffault, a professor at Columbia University and expert in government ethics policies, said Pennsylvania's lack of gift caps, coupled with a relatively high reporting requirement, makes it 'obviously, not much of a restriction.' 'The best practice, really, is to prohibit [gift giving to lawmakers], or to prohibit it other than de minimis gifts along the lines of … $25, $50, $100,' he told Spotlight PA. Briffault added that foreign governments have an agenda when they underwrite lawmakers' travel. 'A place like Taiwan is very interested in having good relations with the United States generally,' he said. 'This is a kind of long-term, deep strategy, cultivating people at the state and local level, as part of a general strategy of having influence in the United States.' Top officials reported another $21,000 in travel paid for by an array of interest groups, including national associations for lobbyists and school choice advocates, as well as multiple political organizations. Other legislative leaders accepted money from unions, utilities, and insurers, primarily to pay for constituent events. State Sen. Christine Tartaglione (D., Philadelphia), for instance, accepted a combined $20,000 from 19 different businesses, organizations, and individuals to finance community events hosted by her office. Among the sponsors were UFCW Local 1776, electric utility PECO, and a Harrisburg lobby shop. A spokesperson for Tartaglione said this money goes toward four community picnics that she throws for schoolchildren in her district every summer, and four senior expos she holds in the fall. The office uses the money, the spokesperson said, to buy things like backpacks and school supplies that are given out at the events. State House Speaker Joanna McClinton (D., Philadelphia) and Appropriations Committee Chair Jordan Harris (D., Philadelphia) reported, respectively, $23,500 and $15,200 worth of gifts and hospitality. As with Tartaglione, much was used to pay for constituent services or events. McClinton accepted $13,500 combined from Highmark, a Pittsburgh-based insurer and hospital chain, and PECO to host three community events. She also reported $2,500 from the Philadelphia Zoo and $2,000 from the city of Philadelphia. A spokesperson didn't clarify what those expenses were for. The zoo often pays for constituent visits, and the city has a box to which it gives away tickets at Lincoln Financial Field, home of the Philadelphia Eagles. McClinton filmed herself attending an Eagles game with multiple elected colleagues in a box last year; a spokesperson did not say how the tickets were paid for at the time. Several of the Philadelphia lawmakers in leadership tended to have higher gift totals, but most of those gifts were routed toward constituents. Christina Fonseca, a spokesperson for Harris, said his goal with this spending is to give constituents opportunities they wouldn't otherwise get. 'There's an abundance of riches and arts in the city, but lower-income people are often locked out of these opportunities,' Fonseca said. 'So part of the reason we put gifts toward constituents is to open the doors to these institutions.' Harris accepted $4,600 from the Philadelphia Zoo for what a spokesperson said was an educational event for constituent children and families, as well as $3,000 in concert tickets for constituents and at least $600 in Eagles tickets from the Philadelphia city government. Fonseca said Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker invited Harris to the football game, and that while he was there he also met with Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey — a former state House colleague — as part of Harris' pet effort to convince the NFL to have the Eagles and Pittsburgh Steelers play each other more often. Harris also reported that a lobbyist, a political operative, and a grocery store all gave him gifts to help with funeral costs after his wife's death last year. Fonseca noted that while the givers do work in politics, they're also longtime close friends of Harris and his family, and the money went directly to the funeral home. Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro again reported that Team PA, a nonprofit that doesn't have to disclose its donors and also holds state contracts, funded some of his travel. Last year's amount was $900. He reported $12,000 in 2023, including a trip to that year's Super Bowl. Shapiro has a gift ban in place for his administration, but his office has told Spotlight PA in the past that he doesn't believe it covers Team PA. The nonprofit has a long history of close work with Pennsylvania governors, and a spokesperson previously called it 'completely incomparable to a private actor.' Shapiro's spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment. The numbers disclosed on legislators' ethics forms are likely only a portion of the total gifts and travel paid for by special interests. Lawmakers add items to their reports only when a lobbyist tells them that a gift or trip is over the reporting threshold. In 2019, a state House committee issued a report that found lobbyists routinely spread gift costs among their legislative clients, which keeps the cost below the threshold. That means what shows up, and what doesn't, is a matter of self-policing between lawmakers and lobbyists, state Rep. Seth Grove (R., York), who chaired the committee at the time, told Spotlight PA — 'not that there are dishonest people in the world,' he joked. He called on the legislature to pass a new standard that would require reporting as soon as a lobbyist spends a single dollar on a meal, trip, or gift for any legislator. If you learned something from this article, pay it forward and contribute to Spotlight PA at Spotlight PA is funded by foundations and readers like you who are committed to accountability journalism that gets results. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Bernie Sanders torches Senate Democrat Elissa Slotkin: Americans aren't ‘dumb' and know what ‘oligarchy' means
Bernie Sanders fired back at criticism for using the word 'oligarchy' as he defended his approach to rallying voters and the Democratic base to respond to the DOGE-ification of the federal government. His remarks on Sunday came after Michigan's newly elected Democratic senator Elissa Slotkin told Politico that she thinks her party should stop using the term. 'The American people are not as dumb as Ms. Slotkin thinks they are,' an unusually pointed Sanders told NBC's Meet the Press on Sunday. 'I think they understand very well, when the top 1 per cent owns more wealth than the bottom 90 percent, when big money interests are able to control both political parties, they are living in an oligarchy.' Slotkin, who spoke with Politico last week, urged her fellow party members to stop using the term 'oligarch' — a word she herself has used to describe Russian billionaire allies of Vladimir Putin on X. The independent senator from Vermont told NBC's Kristen Welker that the tens of thousands of Americans coming out to his rallies across the United States are proof that Slotkin is out of step with Americans across the country. 'We had 36,000 people out in Los Angeles, 34,000 people in Colorado. We had 30,000 people in Folsom, California,' Sanders said. 'These are precisely the issues that have got to be talked about. Are you living in a democracy when [Elon Musk] can spend $270 million to elect Trump and then becomes the most important person in government?' he added. 'Or where AIPAC and other super PACs have enormous power over Democratic candidates?' Joining Sanders on his appropriately-named 'Fighting Oligarchy' tour is New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, one of the party's youngest stars in Congress and a favorite to seek higher office in the coming cycles. The two have turned out crowds larger than Kamala Harris and Donald Trump as they rally angry Democrats and independents in response to the rapid, sweeping changes to the federal government under Trump's second presidency. Another Democrat taking the party's message directly to voters at a time when the national Democratic brand is badly tarnished is Conor Lamb, a former congressman from Pennsylvania, who continues to make appearances at town hall-style events across his home state, including in Republican districts. Lamb, who lost a Senate primary to incumbent Senator John Fetterman after progressives broke in Fetterman's favor, mended fences with Ocasio-Cortez in a social media thread that also revealed where he fell on the use of the term 'oligarch.' He, like Ocasio-Cortez, is widely believed to have ambitions of further political service. '[C]learly we have been on the same side of the oligarchy question (against) and protecting social security and Medicare (for),' Lamb wrote to Ocasio-Cortez on X last month. '[L]ets make that team as big as possible. Good luck on the road.' Sanders, like many progressives, faulted Democrats for abandoning key parts of the party's electoral base — working class voters and minorities — after the 2024 election ended disastrously for Harris, who lost every major battleground state to Trump and won millions fewer votes than her old running mate, Joe Biden, did four years prior. During the campaign, Harris eschewed public support for policy items supported by many on the left, including raising the minimum wage or ending U.S. military support for the Israeli siege of Gaza, and instead campaigned with former Republican Rep. Liz Cheney and vowed that her presidency would be a continuation of Biden's first term. Sanders was an avid supporter of many provisions in Biden's 'Build Back Better' agenda, which died in Congress after the party suffered defections from two centrist Democrats who later gave up their seats rather than face reelection challenges.
Egypt Independent
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Egypt Independent
How AI is being used for Israel's benefit
News reports regarding the leaked audio recording of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) session have focused entirely on the names of Trump administration figures whom the organization considers allies of Israel, while ignoring the most dangerous aspect of the recording—what they perceive as a threat and are planning to prevent. The AIPAC serves as Israel's lobby in Washington. The recording captures events from a closed session at a conference that was leaked to the media. The lobby's president listed the most important 'allies' in the Trump administration and how they became so. He mentioned Marco Rubio, the Secretary of State, and John Ratcliffe, the Director of Central Intelligence, as well as Mike Waltz, the National Security Advisor, whom Trump moved from that position to head his country's mission to the United Nations. All three are former members of Congress. The president explained the long years that the lobby gradually invested in laying the initial groundwork for a long-term relationship that strengthens over time. He recounted Ratcliffe's candidacy for the House of Representatives, stating, 'So I said to myself, this guy looks like he can win, and we need to talk to him.' The implication was to gauge his willingness to support Israel, and based on that, to fund his election campaign. After the victory, the lobby ensures close communication channels between the Congressman 'and the lobby's leaders in his district' so that 'if something happens and we need someone to talk to, the relationship is good.' In other words, the AIPAC spends significant sums on candidate campaigns, and once one of them wins, it opens lasting communication channels for use when necessary. There's nothing new in the names of the allies, nor even in the lobby's modus operandi. What is new is that all this effort exerted by AIPAC and other organizations supporting Israel in Washington is no longer capable of single-handedly standing against the genocide in Gaza. For example, the House of Representatives was forced to withdraw a bill supported by AIPAC that would amend the 2018 law against boycotting Israel, so that it would not only penalize American individuals and institutions that boycott, but also international organizations! The bill was withdrawn after strong opposition not only from the left, this time, but also from Trump's party, especially the radical right! To be fair, Congress is currently overflowing with countless bills to support Israel, and most of them will likely be approved. However, there remain indicators pointing to turbulence ahead. This is closely linked to the most concerning aspect of the leaked recording. It revealed the speakers concern about Israel's negative image in American public opinion, thanks to the role played by supporters of Gaza in universities and on the streets, as well as the widespread dissemination of Gazan suffering on social media. This is where the most dangerous project comes in – Artificial Intelligence. Because the voices of those advocating for Palestine have resonated widely online, the lobby's greatest fear is that they will automatically be part of the content that feeds AI programs. This means that within a few years, AI could become a tool that is not biased towards Israel and provides users with more accurate information that undermines its propaganda! What is now happening at Meta, the owner of Facebook and other platforms, indicates that the project to control artificial intelligence content has begun in earnest. Newspapers published a report revealing that Meta is teeming with American and Israeli AI specialists who served in the Israeli army, including the American head of the 'Artificial Intelligence Division' at Meta. In short, it isn't a surprise that the Israeli army has succeeded in infiltrating WhatsApp groups that did not necessarily discuss topics related to Israel, assassinating everyone in them simply because one person in the group was alleged to belong to Hamas. About the author: A distinguished scholar in political science with a specialization in American affairs, Manar al-Shorbagy holds a Doctorate from Cairo University's Faculty of Economics and Political Science (1994). Her expertise is further underscored by a Diploma in Human Rights Studies from the International Institute of Human Rights Studies in Strasbourg, France (Summer 1994). She currently serves as Senior Advisor on American Affairs at the Arab Center for Development and Future Studies (since 2006) and a Professor of Political Science at The American University in Cairo (since Fall 2000). Shorbagy's prior roles include Director of Academic Affairs and Assistant Professor of Political Science at AUC's Center for American Studies (2004-2006) and a Public Policy Scholar at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in Washington D.C. (July-December 2003).
