Government & Politics

The top Muslim state lawmaker in Michigan wants you to turn on Joe Biden Michigan Rep. Abraham Aiyash hopes to send the president a message in Tuesday’s primary: Cease-fire or bust.

(Politico) In late October, the Democratic floor leader of the Michigan House of Representatives, Abraham Aiyash, stood in front of thousands gathered in downtown Detroit to denounce a man who is vying to win another four years in the Oval Office. He […]

Banks & Banking

Lawmakers call out major U.S. banks for discriminating against Muslim Americans Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Rep. Ilhan Omar are demanding answers about policies that target communities of color.

(HuffPost) Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) released a letter Thursday demanding answers from the heads of several leading U.S. banks about policies that have disproportionately targeted Muslim Americans and communities of color. “The lack of information regarding the […]

Government & Politics

Rep. Ilhan Omar to introduce first bill to block U.S. weapons for Israel since Gaza war began The Minnesota Democrat is taking aim at a $320 million package of bomb equipment that the Biden administration wants to provide to Israel's military.

(HuffPost) Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) will this week introduce legislation to disapprove of a multimillion-dollar package of bomb equipment for Israel proposed by the Biden administration, a source familiar with her plans told HuffPost — posing the first congressional challenge to the […]

Context

Bernie Sanders hosts Rashida Tlaib’s ‘Nakba Day’ after Kevin McCarthy canceled it The anti-Israel event, which was canceled by House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, was relocated to the Senate side of the Capitol

(Jewish Insider) After being canceled by House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), a “Nakba Day” event organized on Wednesday by Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) was moved to the Senate side of the Capitol complex, to the hearing room of the Senate Health, Education, […]

Government & Politics

American Muslims in the midterms aren’t long-shot candidates anymore In 2018, a Muslim blue wave emerged in response to Trump. Four years later, many Muslim American candidates are prepping for long careers.

(HuffPost) Abdelnasser Rashid was one of the dozens of American Muslims who ran for office in 2018. It was dubbed the Muslim blue wave, where more than 90 American Muslims ran for office up and down the ballot, emboldened to push back […]

Government & Politics

Tlaib’s campaign paid out over $100K to a firm founded by defund the police, anti-Israel activist Rasha Mubarak tweeted 'abolish the police' in April 2021

(Fox) The campaign of “Squad” member Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., has paid out over $100,000 for “fundraising consulting” to a Florida-based progressive firm founded and operated by a defund the police and anti-Israel activist, campaign filings show. Tlaib’s campaign and PAC sent […]

Government & Politics

Terry McAuliffe touts endorsement from anti-Israel group Endorsement from pro-BDS activist group raises questions about VA Dem's approach to Israel

(Free Beacon) Virginia Democratic gubernatorial nominee Terry McAuliffe welcomed an endorsement from an activist group that staunchly defends the anti-Israel boycott movement, calling into question his past opposition to the campaign. In a June tweet, McAuliffe said he was “tremendously grateful” to […]

Government & Politics

Palestine advocates slam Biden’s ‘victory lap’ over Gaza ceasefire White House sent an email on Friday highlighting comments from pro-Israel advocates and others praising Biden for role in securing truce

(Middle East Eye) As Palestinians were still looking for survivors under the rubble in Gaza, the White House officially tried to claim victory, citing praise by pro-Israel lawmakers and advocacy groups for President Joe Biden’s handling of the crisis. The administration’s approach […]

Government & Politics

Progressive groups push Biden to tap accused Iranian lobbyist for top national-security role As an Iranian national, Trita Parsi probably cannot get security clearance, say experts

(Free Beacon) A coalition of progressive foreign-policy groups is pressing President-elect Joe Biden to hire an Iranian national accused of lobbying for the Islamist regime for a senior administration role that a non-U.S. citizen would likely be ineligible to hold. As Biden […]

Government & Politics

How Arabs and Muslims helped Biden win Michigan and the White House Election data shows increase in turnout in Arab and Muslim communities that overwhelmingly favoured Biden in the presidential race

(Middle East Eye) In one of his first decrees as president in 2017, Donald Trump signed an executive order banning travellers from several Arab, Muslim-majority countries from entering the United States. Less than four years later, Arab and Muslim communities in Michigan […]

Government & Politics

Five states elect first-ever Muslim lawmakers, from Oklahoma to Delaware On Tuesday, voters in Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Oklahoma and Wisconsin all elected their state legislatures’ first-ever Muslim lawmakers.

(Religion News) Mauree Turner, a 27-year-old member of Oklahoma City’s Muslim community, became Muslim after learning about the faith from her father, who converted while incarcerated. Black and nonbinary, Turner is also a community organizer who’s long been involved in criminal justice […]

Government & Politics

‘We don’t have much of a choice’: Florida’s Muslim voters disenfranchised by both parties In largest swing state, most voter advocacy taking place is for Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden, but not everyone is happy about it

(Middle East Eye) As the US November elections edge closer, much of the nation’s attention has zeroed in on swing states, with some, such as Florida, set to be battlegrounds that may determine the outcome. While there are only about 3.45 million […]

Crime

Joe Biden says Muslims would serve ‘at every level’ in his administration Speaking to Muslim-American advocacy group, Biden reiterates pledge to repeal Trump's 'Muslim ban' on day one of his presidency

(Middle East Eye) Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden vowed Muslim Americans would be included in every social and political aspect in his administration, and reiterated his pledge to repeal President Donald Trump’s “Muslim ban” on his first day in office. In a […]

Government & Politics

‘Out-vote the hate’: Tlaib and Omar call for large Muslim turnout At virtual event hosted by Senator Bernie Sanders, the congresswomen and other prominent US Muslims called for 'historic' turnout to defeat Trump

(Middle East Eye) Congresswomen Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar along with other prominent Muslim Americans have called for high voter turnout from their community to push back against bigotry and defeat President Donald Trump in next month’s election. Speaking at a virtual […]

Government & Politics

‘Inshallah’: Biden uses Arabic expression over release of Trump’s tax returns No foreign policy discussions during the first US presidential debate, in which candidates traded insults and spoke over each other

(Middle East Eye) Many Middle East-related policy questions that could affect the lives of millions of people hang on the outcome of the US presidential elections in November: a possible return to the Iran nuclear deal; Washington’s relations with Riyadh; and the White House […]

Discrimination & “Islamophobia”

MSNBC’s Joy Reid accused of Islamophobia for comparing the ‘way Muslims act’ to radicalized Trump supporters 'That’s how we talk about the way Muslims act,' she said. 'When you see what Donald Trump is doing, is that any different from what we describe as radicalizing people?'

(Daily Beast) MSNBC host Joy Reid on Tuesday faced accusations of Islamophobia over remarks she made during her Monday evening broadcast comparing radicalized Trump supporters to “the way Muslims act.” Reid, who recently took over the 7 p.m. weeknight slot vacated by […]

Crime

Joe Biden’s plan for Arab Americans: Six takeaways The Biden campaign released a platform addressing domestic and foreign policy issues that affect Arab Americans; here's what's in it

(Middle East Eye) US Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden has released a comprehensive platform outlining his plans for the Arab-American community, emphasising commitment to civil rights and prosperity at home as well as a more balanced foreign policy in the Middle East. […]

Government & Politics

Biden campaign’s attacks on Linda Sarsour alienate Muslim voters, activists say Muslim advocates say the campaign's statement against Sarsour shows disregard for Muslim voters who may play key role in November's election

(Middle East Eye) Palestinian-American activist Linda Sarsour offered advice to the Democrats on Tuesday on how to engage Muslim voters: ensure representation, treat Muslims as a decisive voting bloc in swing states and reach out to them in their communities. “The Democratic […]

Government & Politics

Ilhan Omar campaign mailer accuses opponent of being ‘in the pocket of Wall Street’ and only quotes Jewish donors by name The mailer references three Jewish donors, plus 'Michael, a donor from Scarsdale, New York.'

(Vice) Rep. Ilhan Omar’s (D-Minn.) campaign recently sent out a mail piece ripping her primary opponent, attorney Antone Melton-Meaux, for the large donations he’s gotten from wealthy and moderate donors. The only donors to her opponent identified by name in the mailer […]