Staff Reports
The latest pulse of our politics is disturbing but crystal clear: antisemitism is moving out of the shadows and into the daylight — sometimes right onto the ballot. That is not a parlor debate. It is a real threat to Jewish students, to Israel, and to plain common sense in American public life. We should call it out, name it, and stop pretending it’s just a “difference of opinion.”
Antisemitism on the Ballot
Tuesday’s elections showed a sharp rise in anti-Israel and openly hostile candidates gaining traction. Names that would have been fringe a decade ago are now taking big chunks of the vote. We’re talking about candidates who run on embargoes against Israel, who use language like “genocidal” to describe Israel, and who get six-figure donations from outside groups pushing a hardline agenda. Voters should be alarmed. This is not healthy political debate. It is ideology that targets a whole people and a close American ally.
Iran, Violence, and the False Comfort of Diplomacy
Meanwhile, Tehran keeps testing the region and our patience. Iranian rhetoric and missile strikes aimed at neighboring Gulf states are not “talking points” that diplomacy can paper over overnight. President Trump has talked about a ceasefire deal and even meeting the Ayatollah. Fine — talking can be sensible, but talk without leverage and consequences only invites more attacks. Sen. Marco Rubio’s plan to vet Iranian delegations and deny entry to regime backers is the kind of hard-headed step we should see more of. Let’s stop acting surprised when hostile regimes respond to weakness with missiles.
Exposure Helps — But Action Is Required
Rabbi Michael Barclay’s central point is worth repeating: exposure matters. When antisemites and extremists reveal themselves, Americans can finally see who they are. That is a small blessing in a rough time. Universities, media, and donors who quietly supported hostile ideologies are getting scrutiny. Visa bans for violent or antisemitic figures and tighter security for Jewish students are right. But exposure must be followed by policy, not just op-eds. That means vetting foreign influence, cutting off foreign extremist funding, and protecting campuses and neighborhoods where Jewish students and families live and learn.
Conservatives should lead the charge: call out antisemitism no matter where it appears, defend Israel as an American ally, and demand smart, tough policy toward Iran and Islamist militants. Pray, donate, and vote — but also push for real action in Congress and at the state level. If exposing the cockroaches finally gets people to clean the house, great. Let’s not stop at exposure. Let’s finish the job.
