Government & Politics

Dems mobilize to defend Omar in face of GOP defections McCarthy plans to hold a House vote to remove her from the Foreign Affairs panel, but it’s unclear that he’ll have enough support in his conference.

(Politico) House Republicans are already facing defections over a leadership push to oust Rep. Ilhan Omar from her committees. Democrats plan to make the vote even more painful. The Minnesota Democrat and her caucus allies have begun to mount a robust defense […]

Immigration

Border Patrol nabbed 17 people on FBI terror watch list at southern border in December Customs and Border Protection's latest numbers mean that [there] have been 38 terror watch list encounters on the border since October

(Fox) Border Patrol agents stopped 17 people on the FBI’s terror watch list at the southern border in December, bringing the total of individuals arrested at the southern border to 38 already for the current fiscal year. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) […]

Academics & Education

Academic freedom vs. rights of Muslim students An instructor at Hamline U showed an image of Muhammad in an art history class. The president criticized the instructor for doing so. Another professor, who tried to explain the situation with an essay in the student paper, had his piece removed.

(Inside Higher Ed) This fall, an instructor at Hamline University, in Minnesota, was teaching global art history. For one class, the instructor (who has not been named) was discussing Islamic art and included for a brief period (under 10 minutes) a screen […]

Government & Politics

Biden renominates board member at anti-Israel group to Small Business Administration Senate Republicans blocked Dilawar Syed's nomination in 2021 over affiliation with anti-Israel group Emgage

(Free Beacon) The Biden administration will renominate a board member at an anti-Israel group to help lead the Small Business Administration, one year after the nominee was blocked by Republicans, according to the Wall Street Journal. Dilawar Syed served on the board […]

Discrimination & “Islamophobia”

Favourable view of Muslims in the US ticks up, even as Islamophobic incidents rise Number of Americans holding Islamophobic and antisemitic views has flatlined, and may actually be shrinking, even as hate crimes increase

(Middle East Eye) The number of US residents holding Islamophobic and antisemitic views has flatlined, and may actually be shrinking, even as hate crimes increase, according to a 2022 poll conducted by Brookings Institute. Favourable views of Muslims in the US have […]

Arts & Entertainment

Bill Maher roasts ‘insane’ liberals for not calling out Islamic extremism The HBO host blasted 'the people who are purporting to uphold liberalism' for staying quiet on the issue

(Fox) Bill Maher used his “Club Random” podcast on Monday to slam those who will not defend free speech, hammering fellow liberals as “insane” and “backwards” for failing to call out Islamic extremism. Maher had evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins as a guest, […]

Discrimination & “Islamophobia”

Ron DeSantis: Republican rising star alarms Muslim, Palestinian communities As the Florida governor positions himself for a possible presidential bid, activists and organisers say DeSantis reminds them of bigoted rhetoric birthed in US-led 'war on terror'

(Middle East Eye) In 2006, then-Navy officer Ron DeSantis was an appointed attorney supporting the US military’s mission at Guantanamo Bay. Not much is officially known about his months-long stint at the prison, which at its peak held nearly 800 Muslim men […]

Government & Politics

‘Just a matter of time’ before a terrorist gets through border and kills Americans, Lindsey Graham warns Senator tells Harris Faulkner the Biden admin has 'surrendered the border'

(Fox) Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., warned Friday that “it’s just a matter of time” before a terrorist comes into the United States through the southern border and kills Americans. Graham joined “Faulkner Focus” to discuss the national security risk facing Americans and […]

Government & Politics

Muslim Americans make historic gains in 2022 midterm elections 'When Muslims run for office today, in 2022 and beyond, ... it's rewarded by voters,' said Mohammed Missouri, executive director of Jetpac, a nonprofit that works to increase Muslim representation in US government and politics.

(Religion News) Nabeela Syed made history in this year’s midterms when she defeated a Republican incumbent in Illinois’ 51st District, making her the youngest member of the Illinois General Assembly and among the first Muslims elected to the state Legislature. “It is […]

Government & Politics

In run-up to midterms, Muslim groups, mosques push for voter engagement 'The local work is allowing us to expand voting rights so more people can vote for our candidates,' said Nada Al-Hanooti, executive director of Emgage’s Michigan chapter.

(Religion News) Community organizer Nada Al-Hanooti insists local city council politics hold just as much power as elections on the national and federal levels. As proof, she cites voter outreach efforts in southeast Michigan that in 2021 helped elect the city of […]

Discrimination & “Islamophobia”

US may elect first Muslim senator. Why are few Muslims thrilled? Donald Trump-backed Mehmet Oz’s Senate bid fails to produce enthusiasm seen with previous Muslim firsts in US.

(Al-Jazeera) The United States may elect its highest-ranking Muslim official next week — a Donald Trump-backed Republican who has questioned the legitimacy of the 2020 elections. Mehmet Oz, a television personality and retired surgeon of Turkish descent, is running in Pennsylvania against […]

Government & Politics

Arab Americans flex their muscles at the US midterms ballot box Arabic voting ballots available in two Michigan cities as Arab Americans enjoy growing political power

(National-UAE) The upcoming US midterm elections serve as a reminder of how far the Arab American demographic has come in gaining political power and influence. In Dearborn, Michigan — the Detroit suburb long considered the heart of America’s Arab American community — […]

Government & Politics

Mehmet Oz faces backlash from Pennsylvania’s Armenian community over Turkish ties Would-be Republican senator's refusal to recognise genocide has made him persona non grata for many Armenian voters

(National-UAE) For many of the roughly 40,000 Armenian Americans living in Pennsylvania, the Senate race between Democratic candidate John Fetterman and Republican Mehmet Oz is personal and has become focused on a genocide that occurred during the First World War. Oz, a […]

Government & Politics

Pennsylvania Armenians decry Oz’s failure to recognize the Armenian Genocide 'It’s not just genocide denial, it’s the reason why he’s doing it,' said Lorig Baronian, volunteer for the Armenian National Committee of Pennsylvania.

(Philadelphia Inquirer) For Lorig Baronian, the Armenian Genocide is a century-old piece of history that still affects her life today. The descendant of survivors of the genocide, Baronian grew up hearing about the atrocities her ancestors experienced: her great-grandparents meeting in an […]

Government & Politics

NY Gov. Hochul pictured with Dem fundraiser who shared Holocaust denial, other anti-Semitic content Hochul is facing down Republican candidate Lee Zeldin, who is Jewish, for the governor's mansion

(Fox) New York Governor Kathy Hochul took several pictures with a Democrat donor who has a history of sharing anti-Semitic content online, including propagating the conspiracy that six million Jews were not killed in the Holocaust. Hochul, the Democrat governor running for […]

Academics & Education

Congress probes Oberlin College prof. with links to Iranian regime A letter sent to Oberlin wants answers on professor's 'apparent leading role in covering up the Iranian regime's atrocities'

(Fox) Two Republican lawmakers from the Committee [on] Education and Labor called for an inquiry Wednesday into Oberlin College’s religion studies professor Mohammad Jafar Mahallati due to his reported ties with the world’s worst state sponsor of terrorism, the Islamic Republic of […]

Immigration

Border Patrol agents nab a dozen people on terror watchlist at southern border in August Border Patrol have now encountered 78 individuals on terror watchlist this fiscal year alone

(Fox) Border Patrol stopped a dozen individuals whose names are on the FBI’s Terrorist Screening Database (TSDB) in August, bringing the total for the fiscal year to a number that is triple the previous five fiscal years combined — as agents deal […]

Government & Politics

Pentagon IG to review whistleblower claims about alleged Afghan evacuee vetting failures More than 76,000 Afghans were evacuated amid the withdrawal last year

(Fox) The Pentagon Office of Inspector General (OIG) will review a whistleblower’s allegations that hundreds of Afghan evacuees entered the U.S. despite their appearance on a Pentagon watchlist — and claims that officials did not follow correct procedures. In a letter to […]

Discrimination & “Islamophobia”

Poll: Americans’ views on 9/11 depend more on age than political party Many Americans share common beliefs approaching the anniversary of Sept. 11, but a closer look at New Yorkers — and Muslim Americans — reveal[s] nuance

(WRC) Twenty-one years after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks of 2001, Americans across the political spectrum share many of the same feelings when it comes to their memories and sentiments related to the attacks. However, younger adults demonstrate less connection to the […]

Government & Politics

Michigan House Dem candidate ‘honored’ to appear alongside show host who made antisemitic comments after 9/11 Marlinga aims to represent Michigan's 10th District in the House

(Fox) Carl Marlinga, the Democratic nominee to represent Michigan’s 10th Congressional District in the House, made a recent appearance on a Facebook Live program hosted by MD Rabbi Alam, claiming he was “honored” to appear alongside the host who has a history […]

Government & Politics

Rep. Tiffany introduces bill to stop terror-related entry exemptions for Afghan evacuees Biden admin issued exemptions in June for Afghan evacuees on 'case-by-case' basis

(Fox) Rep. Tom Tiffany, R-Wis., has introduced legislation to stop a Biden administration move exempting some Afghan evacuees, including those who worked as a civil servant during the Taliban regime, from terror-related entry restrictions. The “Stopping Taliban Operatives from Penetrating (STOP) Act” […]

Government & Politics

Senators sound alarm on terror-related exemptions to US entry for Afghans, warn of ‘open-ended’ authority The Biden administration announced the terror bar exemptions in June

(Fox) A coalition of senators is seeking clarification from the Biden administration about what they fear is an “open-ended” authority to allow foreign nationals, who have provided “insignificant material support” to certain terrorist organizations, to enter the United States. Ten senators, led […]

Government & Politics

Biden’s low approval among US Muslim voters ‘a challenge’ for upcoming midterms With the US midterms approaching in November, Muslims' low approval ratings for the Biden administration and for Congress should be of concern for candidates.

(New Arab) If US President Joe Biden looks like he’s in trouble with the average voter in the United States, then there’s even worse news for him among Muslim voters. A new survey of US Muslim voters released Wednesday by the Council […]