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☆ Trump returns to campaign trail for first time since hush money trial began
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-01 | by ( Alayna Treene | Kristen Holmes | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

CNN —Former President Donald Trump will make his foray back onto the campaign trail Wednesday for the first time since his New York criminal hush money trial began in earnest last month. Trump advisers see openings with critical working class voters unhappy with inflation, and with Arab American voters who disprove of Biden’s handling of the Israel-Hamas war. But they are still in the early stages of building out the teams, according two senior Trump campaign advisers, which they say will be a mix of paid staffers and volunteers. “That’s a colossal disaster for him,” one of the senior Trump advisers said, and it is something they plan to message on aggressively in the months ahead. Recent campaign filings with the Federal Election Commission show Biden’s principal campaign committee entered April with $85.5 million, while Trump’s main campaign account had $45.1 million in its war chest.

Persons: Donald Trump, Trump, Joe Biden, Melania, politicking, hasn’t, Juan Merchan, I’m, ” Trump, Biden, Trump’s, Biden’s, “, ”, Nikki Haley, Haley, Freeland Organizations: CNN, Trump, Republican, Arab, CBS, Biden, Republican National Committee, MAGA Inc, Israel, Democratic, Former South Carolina Gov, Michigan’s, GOP, White, Michigan, Republican National, Federal Locations: York, Wisconsin, Michigan, Wilmington , North Carolina, Bedminster , New Jersey, New York City, Georgia, Florida, Midwest, Israel, Pennsylvania, Gaza, “, Waukesha , Wisconsin, Freeland , Michigan, Saginaw County, Grand Rapids, Green

☆ Israeli and Iranian strikes transform Middle East geopolitics
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-19 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

CNN —Israel and Iran have now thrust the Middle East into a dangerous new era by erasing the taboo against overt military strikes on one another’s territory. Most immediately, the ball is in Iran’s court after Israel conducted strikes near the city of Isfahan early Friday. Initial reports suggest that the action was limited and, according to US officials, did not target Iranian nuclear sites in the area. Hours before the Israeli strikes, for instance, Iran had warned that any Israeli attack would be met with a robust response. “I do think it sends a message to Tehran that really they are more vulnerable to Israeli strikes than they would like to admit,” Davis said.

Persons: CNN —, Israel, Hossein Amir, Abdollahian, John Kennedy, Netanyahu, Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Joe Biden’s, it’s, Antony Blinken, Donald Trump, ” Aaron David Miller, ” Israel, they’d, Malcolm Davis, CNN’s Michael Holmes, ” Davis, Israel – Organizations: CNN, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Iran’s, Cuban, Israel, American, Hamas, Republicans, Democratic, US, Australian Strategic Policy Institute Locations: CNN — Israel, Iran, Isfahan, Israel, Syria, Iraq, Damascus, Gaza, United States, Washington, Italy, Lebanon, Tehran

Our Electoral College maps below lay out the best scenarios for him and Mr. Trump. In a Wall Street Journal battleground poll taken in March, Mr. Biden had only 37 percent job approval in the state. … orand The second and harder path for Mr. Trump would be if he carried only one Southern swing state – most likely North Carolina. By carrying these states, Mr. Biden has several paths to 270, but the first three scenarios are his most viable. Scenario 4 They involve Mr. Biden winning Georgia and Arizona … They involve Mr. Biden winningand Scenario 5 … or Michigan and Georgia.

Persons: Biden, Akshita Chandra, Yuji Sakai, Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Trump, Biden’s, Court’s, … orand, Hamas’s, Mr, …, —, Bill Clinton’s, Doug Sosnik, Bill Clinton Organizations: Presidency, Trump, New York Times, Electoral, Wisconsin –, Sun, Siena, Black, The Arizona, Michigan, Mr, North Carolina, Republicans, Georgia, Democrats, Congressional District, Michigan …, Wisconsin, Democratic, House Locations: Arizona, – Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Georgia, Nevada, North Carolina, Mich, Pa, Nev, N.C, Ariz . Ga, Wis, Ariz ., Michigan, Arizona , Michigan, Arizona , Nevada, Israel, Gaza, Nebraska, Minnesota, United States, Michigan , Pennsylvania

☆ 'Our community has never had this much power': How Dearborn became the epicenter of Biden's 2024 headaches over Israel
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-13 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

"It might be the driving force behind the movement, but it's much bigger than Palestine," said Lexis Zeidan, another Uncommitted movement leader. Bryan MetzgerBut while the Arab American community is particularly concentrated in the Detroit area, with implications for 2024 in a closely-watched swing state, there are plenty of Arab American voters scattered in competitive states around the country. But the key to the movement's ongoing success has been coalition-building with other communities, including African American voters, young voters, and progressive Jewish voters. Organizers with the Listen to Michigan campaign following election results during a watch party in Dearborn, Michigan on February 27, 2024. After founding the Arab American Institute in Washington, DC in 1985, he and others worked in the intervening decades to build up Arab American power.

Persons: —, Abdullah Hammoud, Dearborn, it's, Joe Biden's, Bryan Metzger Layla Elabed, Abbas Alawieh, Ann Arbor, Layla, Alawieh, Biden, Nikki Haley, Donald Trump's, Trump, Rashida Tlaib, We've, Bryan Metzger, James Zogby, Andy Levin, who's, Jesse Jackson's, Jackson, Jeff Kowalsky, Hammoud, there's, – Organizations: Service, Business, Democratic, Israel . Movement, Israel, Dearborn, Muslim, Palestinian American, Arab American Institute, African American, Jewish, Arab, Getty, Arab American Institute in, what's, Michigan Muslim Locations: Dearborn , Michigan, United States, Gaza, Dearborn Heights, Hamtramck, Dearborn, Michigan, Ann, Palestine, America, Yemenis, Arab, Detroit, Florida, Virginia, Pennsylvania, AFP, Arab American Institute in Washington , DC

☆ AOC says there's an 'upside' to the anti-Biden movement over Israel
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-09 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Uncommitted voters have been refusing to vote for Biden over his support for Israel's war in Gaza. AOC says she's voting for Biden this year — but also sees an "upside" to the uncommitted movement. AdvertisementRep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is not an uncommitted voter herself — but she wants Democrats to recognize the "upside" of the movement. Rep. Rashida Tlaib, who represents the majority-Arab Michigan city of Dearborn, endorsed the movement and cast an uncommitted ballot herself. Other progressives like Ocasio-Cortez have taken a slightly different approach, praising the movement for raising the issue while continuing to support Biden personally.

Persons: Biden, —, Alexandria Ocasio, Cortez, Stephen Colbert, Joe Biden's, Rashida Tlaib, Layla Elabed Organizations: Service, New York Democrat, Democratic, Muslim American, Democratic Party Locations: Gaza, Alexandria, Israel, Michigan, Wisconsin, Arab Michigan, Dearborn, Cortez

☆ Photos challenge misconceptions about what it means to be an American Muslim
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-09 | by ( Leah Dolan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

These are some of the faces featured in “Muslims in America,” an ongoing photography series by British artist Mahtab Hussain. Mahtab HussainSo far, Hussain has documented subjects living in New York, LA, Baltimore and Toronto, Canada. I’ve met people from all over the world in the US who are Muslim: Palestinians, people from all over Africa. Not only do Hussain’s photographs visually challenge the way American Muslims have been portrayed, he has also offered space for his subjects to share their experiences. Mahtab HussainMany members of Dearborn’s Arab American and Muslim American communities have openly rejected Biden for his handling of the Israel-Hamas war.

Persons: Julo, Adbul, Candace, Mahtab Hussain, “, ” Hussain, Hussain, Arslan, ”, Riz Ahmed, creatives, I’ve, ” Julo Cisse, Mahtab Hussain Syeda Monique Legette, he’s, ” Itar Mechmechia, ” Dayana Aziz, Abdullah Hammoud, Joe Biden’s, Biden, Netanyahu, Candace Ashley, that’s, Adbul Warsame, Mahtab Hussain Ahmed Mohamed Organizations: CNN, Nike Air Jordans, Pew Research Center, USC, Initiative, USC Annenberg, British Pakistani Muslim, American, The New York Times, Hamas Locations: United States, America, British, New York, UK, Australia, New Zealand, Glasgow, Kashmir, Pakistan, LA, Balitmore, Baltimore, Toronto, Canada, British Pakistani, Africa, Britain, New York City, Dearborn , Michigan, Gaza, American, Israel, Michigan

☆ US awaits Netanyahu’s response after Biden’s ultimatum
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-04 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

Despite repeatedly expressing its frustration with Israeli tactics, the White House has been unwilling or unable to impose any leverage on the prime minister. There was no immediate response from the prime minister, who held a cabinet meeting after the call that he used to warn that Israel will defend itself against Iran. The Israeli prime minister is a consummate Washington player and has been engaging with Biden’s Republican foes on Capitol Hill, in an alliance that could increase political complications for the president if he creates deeper fractures with the Israeli prime minister. If Biden eventually assesses his warnings are falling on deaf ears, his credibility will depend on him publicly imposing a cost on the Israeli prime minister. But Biden’s political imperatives and the increasing humanitarian price of the war in Gaza mean he’s approaching a fateful crossroads.

Persons: Joe Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, Biden, –, Antony Blinken, Delaware Sen, Chris Coons, Blinken, Israel, John Kirby, Israel –, fulsomely, Biden didn’t, Leon Panetta, CNN’s Jake Tapper, ”, Independent Sen, Bernie Sanders, Tapper, “, ” Sanders, ” Netanyahu’s, ” Netanyahu, ” Kirby, Mike Johnson Organizations: CNN, Arab, Israel, Israel Defense Forces, Democrat, White, Democratic, White House, National Security Communications, Independent, Hamas, Islamic, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, United, Washington, Republican, GOP Locations: Israel, Gaza, United States, Delaware, Palestinian American, Brussels, Washington, Vermont, Iran, Islamic Republic, Damascus, Rafah

“Continuing his tradition of honoring the Muslim community during Ramadan, President Biden will host a meeting with Muslim community leaders to discuss issues of importance to the community,” a White House official said. Vice President Kamala Harris, senior Muslim administration officials, senior members of Biden’s national security team and fewer than a dozen invited guests are expected to attend the meeting, per a senior administration official. White House officials have held several meetings with prominent Arab American and Muslim leaders in various cities. Last month, senior White House officials met with Arab, Muslim and Palestinian American community leaders in Chicago. Tom Perez, the White House director of intergovernmental affairs, and Steve Benjamin, director of public engagement, participated in the meeting, among others.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, ”, “, Eid, Kamala Harris, Ramadan, Tom Perez, Steve Benjamin Organizations: Washington CNN, White, CNN, “, White House, American, Democratic Locations: Israel, Gaza, Northern Gaza, ”, White, Palestinian American, Chicago, Michigan

☆ 'Uncommitted' Democrats may dump Biden over the war in Gaza. They say it's not their fault if Trump wins.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-01 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +15 min

AdvertisementFor the leading voices in the uncommitted movement, that's missing the point — and it's insulting. The "Listen to Michigan" campaign was originally conceived in a memo drafted by Waleed Shahid, a progressive strategist and former spokesman for the left-wing group Justice Democrats. "There is an entire menu of things that President Biden could do to move in the direction of discontinuing the funding of the killing," he said. What uncommitted voters are ultimately looking for is a sense of seriousness and clarity that they feel has been lacking from Biden. Uncommitted movement organizers do not seem to be taking glee in embarrassing Biden.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, Layla Elabed, Abbas Alawieh, Donald Trump, Mitch Landrieu, uncommitted, Trump, Abdullah Hammoud, Waleed Shahid, Jeff Kowalsky, Rashida Tlaib, —, Cori Bush, Missouri —, Elabed, Mayor Hammoud, that's, Hammoud, haven't, I've, James Zogby, We're, Alawieh, Benjamin Netanyahu's, Andy Levin, Zogby, Ronald Reagan, Menachem Begin, Seth Meyers, he's, Benjamin Netanyahu Organizations: Service, Democratic, Democratic National Convention, United Nations Relief, Works Agency, Dearborn, Biden, Movement, Michigan, Democrats, Getty, Democratic Party, Trump, Arab American Institute and, Union, UN, Democrat, Israel Locations: Gaza, Detroit, Michigan, Israel, American, United States, Dearborn, AFP, Missouri, Dearborn Heights, Hamtramck, —, Biden's, Arab, Chicago, Paterson, Rafah, Beirut, New York

☆ Opinion: Two words that made Ramy Youssef’s ‘SNL’ monologue historic
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-31 | by ( Opinion Dean Obeidallah | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

He told the audience about one friend, Brian, who’s locked in a messy divorce and asked Youssef to pray he’ll get custody of his beloved dog. He then mentioned another friend, Ahmed, who asked Youssef to pray for his family in Gaza, telling him: “They’re suffering. Please pray for them.”The comedian continued the joke: “So that night I go to pray, and my prayers are — complicated. Please.” Youssef continued, “And please free the hostages, all the hostages, please,” which also elicited applause. Youssef, though, has been undeterred, using his comedy for months to bring attention to the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.

Persons: Dean Obeidallah, Ramy Youssef, Kenan Thompson, Rami Malik, Youssef, Youssef —, —, “, ”, Brian, who’s, he’ll, Ahmed, I’ve, ” Youssef, Bojangles, Lenny Bruce, Richard Pryor, Jon Stewart, Melissa Barrera, VII, ” Jonathan Glazer, Susan Sarandon, Taylor Swift, Megyn Kelly, Swift, ‘, Let’s, ’, Benjamin Netanyahu’s, Joe Biden —, Israel —, Biden, ” Israel “ Organizations: CNN, Dean Obeidallah CNN, Globe, Hollywood Reporter, “, East Refugee, year’s, Gallup, Israel, UN Locations: Arab, New Jersey, Palestine, Gaza, ”, Palestinian, Hollywood, Brooklyn

☆ US government is changing how it asks about race and ethnicity and adding new category
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-28 | by ( Nicole Chavez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —The Office of Management and Budget on Thursday announced changes to how the federal government asks about people’s race and ethnicity, including in the US census. Under the previous standards, Hispanic or Latino ethnicity was measured in a question separate from the one on racial identity. “Thanks to the hard work of staff across dozens of federal agencies and input from thousands of members of the public, these updated standards will help create more useful, accurate, and up to date federal data on race and ethnicity. “The U.S. Census Bureau commends the scientific integrity and collaboration with our fellow federal statistical agencies and departments throughout this process. These efforts aim to improve federal race and ethnicity statistics and ensure data more accurately reflect the racial and ethnic diversity of the U.S. population,” the agency said.

Persons: ” Karin Orvis, “ We’ve, Maya Berry, Arturo Vargas, ” Vargas, Judy Chu, CAPAC, ” Chu, CNN’s Jennifer Agiesta Organizations: CNN, Management, Budget, OMB, Census Bureau, Arab American Institute, Black, AAI, National Association of Latino, Fund, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, Pacific, Democratic Locations: Indian, Alaska, Eastern, America, “, California

☆ Trump is a ringmaster of multiple sideshows as Biden cranks up pace of reelection bid
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-28 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

That’s a sharp contrast to Biden, who this week wrapped up his post State of the Union tour in North Carolina. The state was in Trump’s column in 2020 and 2016, but Democrats think they can seriously put it back in play. Trump was back in his former home state on Thursday, attending a wake for a fallen police officer on Long Island. It’s too early to say whether unseen work that the Trump campaign is doing to build organizations in key states is paving the way for a successful run back to the Oval Office. Biden tries to build on State of the Union performanceUnlike Trump, Biden has been campaigning in a way that leaves no doubt about the stakes of the coming election.

Persons: Donald Trump, –, Joe Biden, That’s, Biden, Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, ” Biden, Roe, Wade, Trump, ”, It’s, There’s, Nikki Haley, Jonathan Diller, Juan Merchan, Letitia James, can’t, MAGA, Kamala Harris, White, – Biden, “, Donald, Democrats –, Clinton, Obama, CNN’s MJ Lee, Donald Judd Organizations: CNN, America, Union, Trump, Republican, South Carolina Gov, Republican National Committee, RNC, Washington, Democratic, New York, Nasdaq, Intel, Democrats, Radio City Music, Israel, Hamas, Arab Locations: New York, Trump’s, North Carolina, Long, Michigan, “, Arizona, Raleigh, Biden’s, Gaza

☆ Trump Advisers Talk of Palestinian Expulsions, but Activists Focus on Biden
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-26 | by ( Jonathan Weisman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Even as Palestinian-rights organizers focus their ire on President Biden, the advisers who shaped Donald J. Trump’s Middle East policies when he was president have amplified calls for the expulsion of Palestinians from Gaza and the annexation of the West Bank by Israel. Those policy prescriptions, voiced by Mr. Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner and his former ambassador to Israel, David M. Friedman, suggest a right-wing approach to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict exceeding even the Trump administration’s lopsidedly pro-Israeli proposals for a two-state solution. Mr. Trump was contradictory on the policies he would pursue in an interview with a conservative Israeli publication. But he did say he would be meeting with Mr. Friedman to discuss the former ambassador’s plan for Israeli annexation of the West Bank. “The fear of a second Trump term no longer resonates,” said Abed Ayoub, the national executive director of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, who has been organizing Arab American and progressive voters in Michigan.

Persons: Biden, Donald J, Trump’s, Jared Kushner, David M, Friedman, Trump, ”, Abed Ayoub Organizations: Trump’s, West Bank, Israel, Trump, Republican Locations: Gaza, Israel, Israeli, Michigan

☆ Why the 2024 election is about far more than Trump’s legal nightmare
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-26 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

And he’s implicitly arguing he’s making Americans’ lives better while Trump is consumed by his web of criminal and civil legal complications. His goal is to take votes from President Biden to help elect Donald Trump, and we can’t let it happen,” Pennsylvania Democratic Lt. Gov. Trump on the defensiveTuesday’s campaign developments follow another day of extraordinary drama in Trump’s staggering array of legal cases. Nikki Haley in party primaries – even after she shelved her campaign earlier this month – hints at softness in Trump’s support. Alexis McGill Johnson, the president of Planned Parenthood, said that abortion was already a decisive issue in the 2024 election.

Persons: CNN — It’s, Donald Trump’s, quagmire, Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, Robert F, Kennedy Jr, Trump, Biden, he’s, ’, Roe, Wade, Dobbs, –, “ Donald Trump, ” Biden, Marilyn Lands, ”, ” Harris, Kennedy, Nicole Shanahan, Robert Kennedy, Donald Trump, Austin Davis, irk Trump, “ I’d, there’s, Nikki Haley, “, Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump’s, Alexis McGill Johnson, CNN’s Phil Mattingly, ” Trump, musing, Barack Obama’s, “ I’m, “ disinformates Organizations: CNN, White, Republican, Trump, North, Biden, Union, Democratic, –, Alabama, Democrats, Republicans, Affordable, Pennsylvania Democratic, Gov, New, GOP, South Carolina Gov, Arab American, Gaza Health Ministry, Israeli, Court Locations: Washington, North Carolina, California, Alabama, Trump, Pennsylvania, New York, Israel, Gaza, ”, “

☆ Trump is just 3 weeks from becoming the first ex-president to go on trial
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-25 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

Yet the moment that history is likely to remember most clearly unfolded in a Manhattan courtroom where Trump sat seething as a judge thwarted his latest delaying tactics and set a date for his hush money trial. Of course, it’s also possible that Trump could be acquitted in this criminal case. It is a mark of the depth of Trump’s legal hole that a reduced requirement to post a bond worth $175 million counts as a big win. Already clashing with another judgeTurning to Judge Juan Merchan, who took the gloss off of the ex-president’s day by scheduling the trial date, Trump issued another bitter complaint. Trump’s looming criminal trial presents a challenge and an opportunity for the Biden campaign.

Persons: Donald Trump staved, Trump, it’s, Stormy Daniels, isn’t, ” Trump, ”, he’d, he’ll, Arthur Engoron, Letitia James, “, Juan Merchan, Attorney Alvin Bragg, ” Ryan Goodman, CNN’s Erica Hill, Jack, Fani Willis, Willis, Aileen Cannon, Biden, Nikki Haley, she’s, Joe Biden, Trump’s, “ Donald Trump, James Singer, Donald Trump, –, Merchan, ” Merchan Organizations: CNN, Trump, New York, ”, Manhattan, Attorney, Department of Defense, Fulton, GOP, South Carolina Gov, Biden, Arab American, Israel, Engoron, Monday Locations: Manhattan, New York, Fulton County, Georgia, Lago, Florida, Trump, Atlanta, Michigan, Gaza, York

☆ Opinion: What to make of Schumer’s scathing speech on Netanyahu
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-17 | by ( Opinion Aaron David Miller | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

So, is Schumer’s speech likely to have a major impact in Israel or on Biden administration policy? One way to read the impact of Schumer’s speech is that it will give the administration the political space to toughen up its policies toward the Netanyahu government. How Schumer’s speech will impact Israel and the US-Israeli relationship is hard to predict. Just look at the Republican reaction to Schumer’s speech. In an interview with CNN, Senate Minority leader Mitch McConnell said Schumer’s speech was a contradiction of US policy.

Persons: Aaron David Miller, ” Miller, Chuck Schumer, ” that’s, Howard Beale, Benjamin Netanyahu, ‘, Schumer, Biden, Netanyahu, “ atta, Yair Lapid, Naftali Bennett, ” Benny Gantz, Schumer “, “, ” Gantz, We’re, Donald Trump, Trump, Will Biden, Joe Biden, It’s, that’s, he’s, Israel –, Schumer won’t, George H.W, Bush, State James Baker, Yitzhak Rabin’s, Yitzhak Shamir, Rabin, Bill Clinton, Shimon Peres, Peres, John Boehner, Sen, Itamar Ben Gvir, Bezalel Smotrich, Mitch McConnell, can’t, ” Organizations: Carnegie Endowment, International Peace, Democratic, Republican, CNN, “, Likud, State, Republican Party, Democrat, Hamas, Biden, Israel, White, GOP, Republicans, West Bank Locations: East, Israel, Washington, “, Gaza, Arab, Michigan, Qatar, Iran, Jerusalem, America

☆ A speech that sent shockwaves from Washington to Jerusalem
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-15 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Schumer’s rebuke of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Thursday contained extraordinarily strong language for a senior US politician criticizing the Israeli government. He also voiced support for a two-state solution to the long conflict between Israelis and Palestinians, a position that Netanyahu has rejected. He was almost immediately accused of deserting a US ally in a time of war and of trying to interfere in Israeli politics. McConnell added: “Israel is not a colony of America whose leaders serve at the pleasure of the party in power in Washington. Biden himself last week warned Netanyahu was “hurting Israel more than helping Israel” with his assault on the Palestinian enclave.

Persons: Chuck Schumer’s, Israel, ”, Benjamin Netanyahu, Joe Biden’s, Schumer –, –, Netanyahu, “, ” Schumer, Schumer, Israel’s, United States Michael Herzog, Mitch McConnell, doesn’t, McConnell, Obama, Donald Trump, Biden’s, Biden, Kamala Harris, Israel ”, Biden – Organizations: CNN, New York Democrat, Hamas, Likud, Democratic, Kentucky Republican, Senate, Progressives, Democrats, Biden, White, Israel, Israel Democrats Locations: Israel, Gaza, United States, Ukraine, America, Washington, Iran, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Michigan

WASHINGTON (AP) — Facing a barrage of super PAC money, more than 20 progressive groups are coming together to forcefully counter pro-Israel groups’ efforts to primary challenge liberal members who've been critics of Israel's blistering military offensive in Gaza. The coalition, called Reject AIPAC, includes Jewish peace organizations and Arab American and Muslim groups that have been organizing in record numbers since the Israel-Hamas war began in October. That campaign has turned the otherwise safely Democratic districts into election battlegrounds. Israel’s air and ground offensive has also driven most Palestinians from their homes and pushed one-quarter of the population toward starvation. This comes as AIPAC shifted in its own strategy in the last several years, transitioning from strictly a lobbying organization to helping elect centrist, pro-Israel Democrats.

Persons: who've, ”, Usamah, Jamaal Bowman, Ilhan Omar, Summer Lee of Pennsylvania, Cori Bush of, ” Andrabi Organizations: WASHINGTON, Israel, Hamas, American Israel Public Affairs Committee, Democratic, Justice Democrats, AIPAC, Democratic Party, Press, Congressional Progressive Caucus, Israel Democrats Locations: Gaza, Israel, Washington, New York, Minnesota, Cori Bush of Missouri

Minnesota, which had the most organized effort outside of Michigan, saw 1 in 5 Democratic voters mark the “uncommitted” option, a higher percentage than the 13% who voted uncommitted in Michigan. Supporters of the protest argue anger over the war could endanger Biden’s chances in swing states like Michigan against former President Donald Trump in their likely rematch. As Biden’s supporters are quick to point out, the “uncommitted” vote isn't a historical anomaly. Biden has won every state's primary contest so far and is on track to clinch the nomination this month. Minnesota voter Sarah Alfaham voted in the state's Democratic primary — as she has for many years — but opted to mark “uncommitted” on her ballot.

Persons: Joe Biden's, “, Donald Trump, Biden’s, Trump, Biden, Waleed Shahid, Lauren Hitt, ”, He’s, Hitt, Barack Obama’s, Ro Khanna, Shahid, Khanna, uncommitted, Sarah Alfaham, “ Joe Biden, Alfaham, Marcus Casillas, “ uncommitted, they've, they’ve, Asma Nizami, Minnesota's, Jesse Bedayn, Mark Vancleave Organizations: Biden, Democratic, Tuesday, Michigan, United Food, Commercial Workers, Washington, State, Associated Press Locations: LANSING, Mich, Israel, Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin's, Gaza, California, U.S, Colorado's, Washington, Littleton , Colorado, Bloomington , Minnesota

☆ The 'special relationship' under pressure: Are Biden and Netanyahu on a collision course over Gaza?
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-08 | by ( Natasha Turak | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

US President Joe Biden (L) and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (R) meet in Tel Aviv, Israel on October 18, 2023. "The relationship [between Biden and Netanyahu] is absolutely terrible." A report by Politico in early February cited unnamed Biden administration officials describing the president calling Netanyahu a "bad f—ng guy." Israeli war cabinet member Benny Gantz (L) meets US Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Democrat of New York, at the US Capitol on March 05, 2024. Gantz reportedly faced a barrage of harsh questions and critiques from the administration over Israel's handling of the Gaza war.

Persons: Joe Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Biden, Israel's, Yasser Qudih, Netanyahu, Hussein Ibish, Benny Gantz, Chuck Schumer, Roberto Schmidt, Axios, Gantz, Donald Trump, Kamala Harris, Mostafa Bassim, Nimrod Novik, Novik, Ashraf Amra, I've, Ibish, Yonatan Freeman, Israel, Freeman Organizations: GPO, Getty Images, Anadolu Agency, Getty, White, Israeli, Biden, Palestinian, United Nations, Israel, Anadolu, West Bank, U.S, Gulf States Institute, CNBC, Politico, Capitol, AFP, Prime, Islamic Center of Detroit, Defense, Israel Policy Forum, Bank, Israel's Hebrew University, Christian Locations: Tel Aviv, Israel, Anadolu, Gaza, Rafah, Gaza's, Washington, New York, Michigan, United States, Palestinian, Gaza City, Jerusalem, U.S, Saudi Arabia

☆ ‘Uncommitted’ Effort to Protest Biden Will Shift Its Focus to Washington State
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-06 | by ( Reid J. Epstein | Mike Baker | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

After gaining some traction in Michigan and Minnesota, the next stop in the campaign to protest President Biden’s handling of Israel’s war in Gaza will be the Washington State primary next Tuesday. Like in Michigan, which has a large Arab American population, and Minnesota, where there is a significant population of East African immigrants and their children, the Washington State effort is counting on Middle Eastern immigrants and progressives to serve as a moral voice against America’s foreign policy alliance with Israel. Rami Al-Kabra, a Palestinian-American who is a City Council member in the Seattle suburb of Bothell, said activists have been reaching out to immigrant communities and others who have expressed disillusionment with Democrats. Some, he said, had thrown away their mail ballots, feeling like they did not have a voice. But after learning of the option to vote “uncommitted,” they have requested replacement ballots to submit.

Persons: Biden’s, Israel, Rami Al, “ uncommitted, ” Organizations: Washington State, City Locations: Michigan, Minnesota, Gaza, East, Washington, Palestinian, Seattle, Bothell

Layla Elabed, campaign manager for Listen to Michigan, which spearheaded the protest vote against President Biden last week in Michigan. “Elections have a certain amount of momentum,” said Keith Ellison, Minnesota’s Democratic attorney general, who voted for Mr. Biden. Uncommitted Minnesota said it spent about $20,000 on the campaign since beginning last Monday. In Washington, organizers are pushing similar efforts to vote “uncommitted” in the state’s primary next week. It was not our first choice, but we have to let President Biden know that our votes are not to be taken for granted.”Nicholas Nehamas contributed reporting from Minneapolis.

Persons: Layla Elabed, Biden, Israel —, Mr, Uncommitted, Rashida Tlaib, Donald J, Donald Trump, ”, Elianne Farhat, Kamala Harris, “, Lauren Hitt, Cole Harrison, Trump, Keith Ellison, Ellison, Biden’s, Joe Biden, Abdullah Elagha, Harrison, Ilhan Omar, Rania Masri, —, uncommitted, Rami Al, ” Nicholas Nehamas Organizations: Democratic, Democratic National Convention, Somali, Trump, Uncommitted Minnesota, Hamas, Massachusetts Peace, Mr, “, Democratic Party, Colorado Palestine Coalition, Abandon Biden, Republican Party Locations: Michigan, Israel, Gaza, Colorado, Minnesota, Massachusetts, Cambridge, Colorado , Massachusetts, North Carolina, United States, American, Uncommitted Minnesota, In Minnesota, Georgia, Washington, Bothell, Minneapolis

☆ America has never had a presumptive nominee like Donald Trump
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-06 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

CNN —Donald Trump has put America on notice – his second term would be even more disruptive and turbulent than his first. He’s portraying America as a dystopian, failed state overwhelmed by lawlessness, urban blight and slipping toward World War III abroad. For Trump, America is not Ronald Reagan’s “shining city on a Hill.” It is a banana republic. Who are these people that would ruin our country?” Trump asked. After Trump demoralized US allies in his first term, Biden has reinvigorated and expanded NATO in responding to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine – an illegal land grab Trump suggests he will reward.

Persons: Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Nikki Haley, –, Trump, he’s, conflating, “ We’re, we’re, ” Trump, Ronald Reagan’s “, “, ”, quagmire –, Biden, chillingly, reedy, ” Biden, Grover Cleveland, He’s, Haley, Robert F, Kennedy Jr Organizations: CNN, Republican, GOP, Carnage, Trump, Justice Department, Capitol, Wednesday, White House, Democrat Locations: America, Ukraine, Florida, ”, Manchester , New Hampshire, Super, United States, NATO, Michigan, Arab, Gaza

☆ Opinion: Bad omens for Trump
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-06 | by ( Opinion David Mark | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

CNN —Former President Donald Trump is the closest thing in modern political history to an incumbent who doesn’t hold the office. But these considerable advantages also raise questions about his general election chances given his inability to completely win over Republican primary voters. Despite effectively clinching the Republican nomination with a near-sweep of Super Tuesday states, Trump couldn’t escape the shadow cast by former South Carolina Gov. Haley dropped out Wednesday after consistently winning 30% or so of the GOP primary vote in the states she competed in. Undoubtedly some of the Republican voters who backed Haley in the primaries and caucuses will return to the Trump fold in November, maybe even a majority.

Persons: David Mark, “, Donald Trump, doesn’t, Trump, Nikki Haley, Haley, Joe Biden, haven’t, Pat Buchanan, George H.W, Bush, Pat Sullivan, Buchanan, Bill Clinton, Ross Perot, Massachusetts Sen, Ted Kennedy, Jimmy Carter, Kennedy, Carter, Ronald Reagan, Joan, Wally McNamee, Corbis, Reagan, Gerald Ford, Richard Nixon, Ford, Owen Franken, Lyndon Johnson, Johnson, Sen, Eugene McCarthy, Hubert Humphrey, Nixon, Biden, Hillary Clinton, they’re, McCarthy, Dean Phillips, Marianne Williamson, ”, Israel –, Philips, doesn’t bode Organizations: Washington, CNN, Trump, Republican, South Carolina Gov, GOP, United Nations, Evangelical Pastors, GOP White House, Republican Party, Democratic, Electoral, New Hampshire Democratic, Biden, Rep, Dean Phillips of Minnesota, Twitter, Facebook, Hamas, Israel Locations: Arizona , Georgia, Michigan, Nevada , New Hampshire , Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Trump, Bedford , New Hampshire, Massachusetts, California, Boston, . Indiana, Minnesota, Vietnam, North Carolina, Virginia, Gaza

☆ How the ‘Uncommitted’ Effort to Protest Biden Has Spread in Super Tuesday States
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-05 | by ( Anjali Huynh | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Organizers in several Super Tuesday states are calling on voters to oppose President Biden at the ballot box over his stance on the war in Israel and Gaza, building on momentum that began last month in Michigan. More than 101,000 Michiganders voted “uncommitted” in the state’s Democratic primary, after a group of young Arab Americans started a campaign encouraging voters to protest Mr. Biden’s alliance with Israel — earning two delegates to the Democratic National Convention. Inspired by the campaign, pro-Palestinian groups around the country started similar efforts to push the president to call for a permanent cease-fire. In Minnesota, organizers knocked on doors and held get-out-the-vote events to promote the “uncommitted” category, with outreach to Muslim Somali Americans and young voters. And in Massachusetts, thousands of protesters at a rally in Cambridge chanted “no preference,” the similar designated protest option.

Persons: Biden, Israel — Organizations: Democratic, Democratic National Convention, Somali Locations: Israel, Gaza, Michigan, Colorado, Minnesota, Massachusetts, Cambridge

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