Government & Politics

‘We don’t need someone distracted with Twitter’: Ilhan Omar fights off tough primary challenge The Minnesota freshman and 'Squad' member faces criticism that she’s too divisive to effectively represent her district.

(Politico) Rep. Ilhan Omar is one of the best-known Democrats from the class of 2018, a lightning-rod member of the Squad whose outspoken liberal politics have made her an enemy of Donald Trump. Back home in Minneapolis, however, her polarizing national profile […]

Government & Politics

Deleted Biden video sets off a crisis at Voice of America The taxpayer-funded outlet is grappling with the fallout from a video post deemed too favorable to the former vice president, setting off recriminations and suspicion amid a shakeup.

(Politico) Voice of America is weighing a suspension of four contractors who were involved in publishing a story and video that was deemed too favorable to Joe Biden’s presidential campaign, according to two people familiar with the matter. On July 22, VOA’s […]

Government & Politics

‘Dismantle’ racism: Muslim-American Democrats issue platform proposals Coalition of Muslim Democratic delegates puts forward list of recommendations including ending surveillance programmes and US aid to Israel

(Middle East Eye) In 2016, the Democratic Party’s platform sounded an alarm on the harm that a Donald Trump presidency would cause by outlining potential damages to different communities targeted by the then-Republican nominee’s proposals. “The stakes have been high in previous […]

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 […]

Government & Politics

Biden campaign holds private meeting with Palestinian-American activists Senior adviser to Joe Biden was 'evasive' and made no promises to address Israel's human rights abuses, source tells MEE

(Middle East Eye) Joe Biden’s presidential campaign held a private virtual meeting with Palestinian-American activists on Tuesday, several sources familiar with the call confirmed to Middle East Eye. Tony Blinken, a top campaign adviser, drew a “contrast between Donald Trump and Joe […]

Discrimination & “Islamophobia”

House votes to repeal Trump travel ban

(Hill) The House passed legislation to repeal President Trump’s controversial travel ban in a 233-183 vote along party lines on Wednesday. The legislation — spearheaded by Rep. Judy Chu (D-Calif.) and backed by 219 co-sponsors — includes language aimed at reining in […]

Government & Politics

Jewish Democratic Council says it won’t back Ilhan Omar, mum on endorsing her primary opponent Antone Melton-Meaux, one of four candidates challenging Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar in the primary, has critcized her record of anti-Semitic and anti-Israel remarks.

(JNS) The Jewish Democratic Council of America (JDCA) has affirmed that it will not support Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) in her upcoming primary, but did not provide [an] endorsement to her chief primary opponent, progressive Antone Melton-Meaux. Omar is set to face […]

Government & Politics

Meet Nabilah Islam, the Bangladeshi American trying to make Georgia progressive Endorsed by Ilhan Omar and AOC, Islam says she's not just trying to flip her district from red to blue, but from red to progressive

(Middle East Eye) Nabilah Islam says her family’s one of the lucky ones. As a teenager, her mother, a working-class immigrant from Noakhali, Bangladesh, literally broke her back while trying to hold down two jobs — flipping burgers at one and stacking […]

Government & Politics

Joe Biden’s campaign removes ‘racist’ anti-Palestinian language from platform Passage saying BDS lets Palestinians 'off the hook for their choices' has disappeared from Biden's plan for Jewish-American communities

(Middle East Eye) Joe Biden’s campaign has watered down an anti-BDS line from his platform for Jewish-American communities, removing “racist” language that angered Palestine solidarity activists. The Biden campaign said in a statement earlier this month that his administration will “firmly reject […]

Government & Politics

Biden’s plan for Muslim Americans: A ‘good start’ but missing policy details Activists call for more specifics from Biden's campaign and urge direct engagement with Muslim community

(Middle East Eye) Joe Biden has released a plan to protect the civil rights of Muslim Americans and reverse some of Donald Trump’s Islamophobic decrees if elected president. The plan, titled “Joe Biden’s agenda for Muslim-American communities,” vows to undo Trump’s Muslim ban on […]

Government & Politics

Hosting Linda Sarsour, Engel challenger rails against congressman’s ‘uncritical’ support of Israel 'One is bad and one is outrageous,' Sarsour says of presidential candidates

(Jewish Insider) New York congressional candidate Andom Ghebreghiorgis hosted Palestinian-American activist Linda Sarsour on Wednesday evening for a digital town hall discussion about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and former Vice President Joe Biden’s presidential platform. Details: Ghebreghiorgis, a 33-year-old activist from Mount Vernon, […]

Interfaith

ViacomCBS cancels event with Linda Sarsour as part of Women’s History Month 'The fact remains that the folks at ViacomCBS thought that a woman who lauded an anti-Semite like Louis Farrakhan is a symbol of "inclusion,"' said Dexter Van Zile, a researcher at CAMERA.

(JNS) ViacomCBS canceled an event this week featuring former Women’s March leader Linda Sarsour, who is known for her support of the anti-Israel BDS movement and has been accused of spreading anti-Semitism. The Women’s History Month event on Wednesday was specifically going to be […]

Interfaith

ViacomCBS to host BDS advocate Linda Sarsour as part of Women’s History Month 'Why would they help promote the idea of someone who has spoken in such ugly terms about American Jews and the victims of Islamist violence? It’s unbelievable!' exclaimed CAMERA researcher Dexter Van Zile.

(JNS) ViacomCBS is scheduled to host this month former Women’s March leader Linda Sarsour, who is known for her support of the anti-Israel BDS movement and has been accused of spreading anti-Semitism. “Join us 3/11 at 4:30 pm EST for a conversation […]

Government & Politics

Biden campaign urged to remove ‘Modi supporter’ as Muslim outreach coordinator Middle East Eye understands that Joe Biden's presidential campaign is desperate to find new outreach coordinator to help secure Muslim vote

(Middle East Eye) Pressure is mounting on Joe Biden’s presidential campaign to replace its Muslim outreach manager following revelations he has strong connections with India’s right-wing Hindu government. Sources have told Middle East Eye that the Biden campaign is scrambling to find […]

Government & Politics

In battle for the Muslim vote, Sanders destroys the competition: poll Amid massive voter turnout of Muslim-Americans, Bernie Sanders takes the Muslim vote in landslide, recent CAIR survey shows

(Middle East Eye) US presidential candidates made unprecedented efforts to court the Muslim vote in the lead-up to Super Tuesday, but according to a recent poll, Bernie Sanders won that battle in a landslide. Sanders took 58 percent of the overall Muslim […]

Government & Politics

Bernie Sanders’ next-level outreach gives Muslims solid footing in presidential politics Candidates on both sides of the aisle have rarely formalized their attempts to draw in Muslims. Sanders has succeeded and lifted up an often-overlooked voter base.

(HuffPost) Super Tuesday saw former Vice President Joe Biden leap ahead in the battle for the Democratic presidential nomination while Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) got knocked out of the lead. Despite the losses, the Sanders campaign has advanced how presidential candidates have […]

Government & Politics

Group of Palestinian Americans endorses Bernie Sanders for president Collection of activists and organisations says Sanders draws attention to the 'injustices of the occupation'

(Middle East Eye) A coalition of Palestinian-American activists and advocacy groups has endorsed Senator Bernie Sanders for president, lauding the Democratic candidate as a “supporter of justice, equality and human rights for all, including the Palestinian people.” “We call upon all Palestinian […]