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  • On this edition of Parallax Views, the Left Business Observer's Doug Henwood, host of the influential radio program Behind the News, returns to the program to discuss Trump's tariffs, Bidenomics vs. Trumponomics, the legacy of the anti-WTO/anti-globalization protests of the late 1990s, and much more!

    Literally a half hour before Doug and I began recording Trump announced a 90-day pause on some of his tariffs. We'll be discussing what Doug sees as Trump's nostalgia about a romanticized 1950s America and how he believes that is driving Trump's policies in many ways. Doug talks about what he sees as the nonsensical nature of Trump's tariffs and how stocks shot up immediately after Trump announced the 90-day pause. Although sometimes there's more noise than signal when looking at the stock market, in this case the response of the stock market over the past week has reflected very real economic anxieties. He also notes that the bond market has been reacting strangely in the past week in a way that is worrying. Doug notes that we'll likely see prices increase in May and June and discusses the effect these tariffs will have on those at the bottom of the income distribution. All of this will factor into Doug's analysis of why he thinks Trump has announced a 90-day pause on some tariffs.

    We'll also discuss in-depth the pros and cons of Bidenomics and then look at that in comparison to Trumponomics. We'll discuss industrial policy, ways of bringing back manufacturing to the U.S. in a productive rather than destructive manner, and we'll look at the effect of tariffs on poorer countries like Vietnam or Cambodia.

    We'll also discuss how there's been a wide backlash against Trump's tariffs from across the political spectrum including libertarians like Thomas Sowell, CNBC's Jim Cramer, and even some protectionists. Doug Henwood sums up the backlash as being driven ultimately by the crudeness of the tariff policy.

    The conversation will also delve into Trump's romanticism about the 19th century U.S. economy, the legacy of the anti-WTO/anti-globalization protests of the late 90s, the potential of a pro-trade internationalism that isn't neoliberal and is informed by socialist or left-wing concerns, the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022, the Biden team's failure to tout the positive aspects of Bidenomics, Trump's anti-libertarian streak, DOGE, the misanthropy of the Silicon Valley right-wing, comparing and contrasting the Ralph Nader and Donald Trump views on foreign trade, and much, much more!

  • On this edition of Parallax Views, the Quincy Institute's Karthik Sankaran—writer, analyst, and longtime observer of global macroeconomic trends—joins the program to unpack the Trump administration’s sweeping new tariff policy. Billed as a "reciprocal tariff" strategy, the move abandons long-held trade norms like Most Favored Nation (MFN) status in favor of a confrontational approach that targets countries based on bilateral trade deficits with the U.S.

    We'll end begin by discussing the logic and methodology that Karthik believes are driving the Trump tariff policies. We'll also delve into why the tariffs have been criticized across the board by neoliberals (of which Karthik describes himself as), right-wing libertarians like Thomas Sowell, and even progressively minded protectionists. The conversation will also delve into an area of particular interest to Karthik: how this will effect the Global South. We'll also delve into what the tariffs mean for U.S. foreign policy and international relations, why Brazil may come out of this better than other countries, what the tariffs mean for Europe and the EU, nearshoring vs. off-shoring and how nearshoring could be beneficial to Mexico, the U.S. move towards economic protectionism even under Biden, and what the tariffs mean for China.

    Also, Karthik will address listeners that disagree with his neoliberal worldview. Karthik describes himself as a "Neoliberal Peacenik". Whether or not you agree with his overview worldview, hopefully you'll find it interesting and informative.

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  • On this edition of Parallax Views, legal scholar and Boston University Law professor Jonathan Feingold joins us to discuss a growing crisis in higher education: the escalating assault on academic freedom. At the center of this episode is the recent dismissal of Dr. Cemal Kafadar and Dr. Rosie Bsheer—faculty leaders of Harvard's Center for Middle Eastern Studies—following politically charged accusations related to programming on the Israel-Palestine conflict.

    Feingold, a member of Concerned Jewish Faculty & Staff-Boston Area, breaks down why these dismissals are not just isolated incidents but part of a broader pattern of repression targeting scholars and students advocating for Palestinian human rights. We dig into the weaponization of antisemitism discourse, the chilling effect on scholarship, and how elite institutions like Harvard are capitulating to pressure from right-wing forces and donor lobbies—including those aligned with Trump’s authoritarian cultural agenda.

    This story isn’t just about Israel-Palestine. Even for those uninterested in debates over Israel-Palestine, the implications of this case are far-reaching. It raises urgent questions about academic freedom, free speech, and free inquiry in American universities. What happens when controversial topics become grounds for dismissal? How do elite institutions navigate the tension between political pressure and intellectual autonomy? And what does this say about the health of democratic discourse in higher education?

    This episode is not just about one controversy at Harvard—it’s about the future of the university itself.

  • Recorded:4-7-2025

    On this edition of Parallax Views, journalist James M. Dorsey of the Turbulent World w/ James M. Dorsey Substack returns for another Middle East update. In this conversation we go over the visit Israel's Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, is making to Washington D.C. to meet U.S. President Donald Trump. The visit will reportedly entail discussion focused on Israeli hostages in Gaza as well as U.S. tariffs. This comes on the heels of Netanyahu facing re-emerging politically turmoil domestically Israel. Netanyahu is complaining more and more of a "leftist deep state" in Israel and the U.S (see also: this report from The Times of Israel). Additionally, hundreds of thousands are fleeing the southern Gazan city of Rafah due to airstrikes and a deadly assault on medics in Gaza. Israel has had to walk back its account of how the assault on those medics happened as video of it has emerged.

    We'll be discussing all of this on the show as well as the relationship between Trump and the Gulf States, specifically Saudi Arabia and the UAE. What does this mean for Israel (and the Palestinians)? We'll discuss what leverage the Saudis may have in regard to what happens next in Gaza. We'll also discuss Turkey-Israel relations and Syria. And, of course, Iran will play into the discussion. And we'll delve into the rise of civilization-states, the difference between nation-states vs. civilizational states, and the battle of narratives between Israelis and Palestinians. All that and much more on this edition of Parallax Views w/ J.G. Michael!

  • Recorded 4/7/2025

    On this edition of Parallax Views, Israeli commentator Ori Goldberg returns to the show to discuss the latest development in Gaza and Israel. This conversation came about due to the horrific stories coming of the southern Gaza city Rafah and touches upon that as well as the political turmoil currently bubbling to a fever pitch in Israel. J.G. specifically reached out to interview Ori in the hopes of trying to make sense of what is happening on the ground. Abstractions are often attendant to discussions of Israel/Palestine, but the human cost cannot be forgotten. That is what led to this discussion, and it proved difficult on some level due to the intense nature of the horrors we've seen in the past year and a half whether it be the events of October 7th or the scenes coming out of Rafah. Ori's approach is highly reflective in nature and as such has a certain unique quality. Whether you agree or disagree with Ori's thinking, this is hopefully going to be a powerful discussion.

  • On this edition of Parallax Views, host J.G. Michael engages renowned Israeli pollster Dahlia Scheindlin in a revealing discussion on the evolution of Israeli civil society and its dynamic relationship with both Palestinian civil society and internal societal shifts within Israel. Drawing from her insightful essay, “The Rise, Weakening, and Resurgence of Civil Society in Israel,” Dahlia navigates the complex interplay of historical, political, and social forces that have shaped civic life in the region.

    - Internal Transformation: Explore how the transition to the Likud government in the 1970s led to the weakening of Israel's welfare state, creating a vacuum that civil society eagerly filled with new social and political initiatives.

    - Historical Perspectives: Trace the development of Israeli civil society from its Zionist origins through the transformative eras of the Oslo Accords and beyond, while examining how these shifts have paralleled, intersected, and at times clashed with Palestinian civic movements.

    - Interplay of Resistance and Repression: Learn how grassroots resistance against occupation as well as anti-democratic movements in Israel has fueled a dynamic interplay between Israeli and Palestinian civil societies, fostering both collaboration and contention in the quest for justice and democratic reform.

    - Legislative and Social Backlash: Understand the impact of autocratic policies and legislative attacks under Netanyahu’s government, which not only suppressed dissent but also galvanized a renewed civic activism among diverse groups.

    - Turning Points and Future Prospects: Delve into the dramatic civic mobilization following the events of October 7, 2023, and explore what this resurgence means for the future of democratic engagement and cross-community solidarity in a divided society.

    This episode offers a compelling narrative that weaves together historical context, political resistance, and the powerful role of civic action in shaping both Israeli and Palestinian futures.

    We will also discuss Dahlia's recent trip to the United States, where she is currently on a speaking tour. Additionally, Dahlia and will discuss into the gap between the perspectives of diaspora populations vs. those living in Israel/Palestine.

    You can currently obtain an ebook download of Suppressing Dissent, which features Dahlia's essay, for FREE at the Carnegie Endowment website. Contributors include such previous Parallax Views guests as Nathan J. Brown, Dana El Kurd, and Dahlia Scheindlin as well as Lara Friedman, Marwa Fatafta, Yael Berda, Jessica Buxbaum, and many others.

  • On this edition of Parallax Views, Andrew Day—senior editor at The American Conservative and contributing fellow at Defense Priorities—joins the show to unpack his provocative article, “Mahmoud Khalil, Viewed From the Right.” In our conversation, Andrew explains why he believes MAGA conservatives must oppose the arrest and potential deportation of Mahmoud Khalil, a pro-Palestinian activist and green card holder whose First Amendment rights are at stake.

    Andrew details how the Trump administration’s use of a 1952 immigration statute to target Khalil’s protest activities not only oversteps constitutional protections but also sets a dangerous precedent for conservatives. He argues that even those who challenge Khalil’s views must uphold free speech and that Khalil's detainment has less to do with being a threat to "U.S. foreign policy" than the fact he was protesting Israel.

    We will also discuss billionaire Trump back Miriam Adelson and pro-Israel affinity group advocacy in the U.S., disagreements that exist in the American conservative movement over the U.S. strikes against the Houthis in Yemen and concerns about the renewed potential for a conflict with Iran,

  • On this edition of Parallax Views, we dive into the struggles facing men in modern society with two insightful guests: Alex Gendler, author of "The New Superfluous Men" in American Affairs Journal, and Ryan Zickgraf, author of "Working-Class Men Are Not Okay" in Jacobin.

    Gendler unpacks the incel phenomenon, exploring how economic shifts, social alienation, and demographic imbalances have contributed to a growing class of men who feel expendable in a post-industrial world. Meanwhile, Zickgraf examines the deeper crisis afflicting working-class men—rising mortality rates, economic precarity, loneliness, and the erosion of traditional support networks.

    Are these issues cultural, political, or economic at their core? How do they fit into broader discussions about gender, class, and social discontent? And what solutions—if any—exist for reversing these trends? All that and more on this thought-provoking episode of Parallax Views.

  • On this edition of Parallax Views, the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace's Zaha Hassan returns to the program alongside first-time guest Yousef Munayyer, a Senior Fellow at the Arab Center Washington D.C., to discuss the new book she co-edited with H.A. Hellyer entitled Suppressing Dissent: Shrinking Civic Space, Transnational Repression, and Palestine-Israel. Yousef is a contributor to the Suppressing Dissent and, amongst other things, he will discuss his piece in the book entitled "Closing Spaces Beyond Borders: Israel’s Transnational Repression Network". Zaha will discuss a number of topics related to the book as well including her contribution, co-written with Layla Gantus, called "Between a Rock and a Hard Place: The Impact of Israel’s Occupation and Palestinian Authoritarianism on Community Organizing and NGOs".

    The conversation will begin, of course, with a discussion of a case that makes this book timelier than ever: the detainment of Columbia University pro-Palestinian student protester Mahmoud Khalil by the Trump administration. From there we will discuss such issues as the Israeli-based NSO Group's infamous Pegasus spyware being used against Palestinian civil society organizations, the long shadow of the Oslo Accords, the interplay between the Israeli occupation and the governance in Gaza and the West Bank, revisiting Zaha's paper on the Human Rights-centric approach to dealing with Israel/Palestine, the debanking of Palestinian civil society individuals and organizations, the Palestinian Authority vs. Palestinian civil society, and much, much more.

    You can currently obtain an ebook download of Suppressing Dissent for FREE at the Carnegie Endowment website. Contributors include such previous Parallax Views guests as Nathan J. Brown, Dana El Kurd, and Dahlia Scheindlin as well as Lara Friedman, Marwa Fatafta, Yael Berda, Jessica Buxbaum, and many others.

  • On this edition of Parallax Views, Matthew Petti, an assistant editor at Reason magazine whose beat is national security issues, returns to the program to discuss his recent articles "Bipartisan war hawks go after Trump defense pick Elbridge Colby", "Is Trump borrowing Biden’s ‘bear hug’ approach to Israel?", and "Who is the Palestinian Columbia student detained for his protest activity?". We'll also discuss the situation in Syria, specifically the uprising and massacre of Alawite civilians in the past week. In regards to Syria, we'll dissect the information war shell game that's currently taking place and how various actors including Israel, Russia, Iran, Turkey, and the Arab Gulf States are all pushing certain narratives in relation to Syria's transitional government led by Ahmed al-Sharaa (formerly Abu Mohammad al-Julani).

    In the first portion of our conversation, we look at the confirmation hearing of Elbridge Colby, who has been nominated by President Donald Trump to be his Under Secretary of Defense for Policy. Although Colby belongs to the world of defense intellectuals and is not a dove by any stretch, some of his views have a pro-restraint bent that have come under fire from both Republicans and Democrats. Republican Senator Tom Cotton, in particular, appears to take issue with Colby, specifically Colby's views on the Middle East (Colby wants to wind down U.S. involvement in the region), and is alleged by a number of Trump allies to have been behind a recent whisper campaign against Colby.

    We'll examine the realist camp of figures who have been given positions within the Trump administration thus far and JD Vance and Marco Rubio's allusions to realist foreign policy views since Trump's election. We'll also discuss how the other side of the coin when it comes to this embrace of realism by elements of the Trump administration and MAGA. Namely, the increasing talk of consolidating U.S. power in its geographic sphere of influence (ie: all the talk of making Canada the "51st State"). Petti will also go over Colby's hawkish views on China, specifically in relation to Taiwan, and how his views have changed over the years.

    In the latter portion of the conversation, we'll discuss Petti's notion that Trump's may well be employing the "bear hug" strategy with Israel that many claimed Biden was using during his administration in light of the Gaza War. Petti makes the case that Biden did not actually apply the bear hug strategy, but that Trump may actually be using it. On one hand, Trump is frequently proclaiming his pro-Israel credentials for domestic consumption (ie: the targeting of Gaza protesters as "pro-Hamas" sympathizer or illegal "agitators"; saying he completely wants to eradicate Hamas). On the other hand, the Trump administration just held secretive talks with Hamas that were brought ot the public by Axios journalist Barak Ravid. Ravid, who has many sources within the Israeli national security state, broke the news and it seems reasonably to say Israeli security sources wanted the story to come out even if Trump didn't want that to happen. What are the implications of this? We'll delve into that in-depth.

    Afterwards we will turn our attention to detainment of Mahmoud Khalil, a lead negotiator for pro-Palestinian protest camp at Columbia University. The detainment has garnered massive media attention with Khalil currently being held at an ICE detainment center. Turns out Khalil is not in the U.S. on a student visa. He has a green card. Although the Department of Homeland Security argues that Khalil's " activities aligned to Hamas, a designated terrorist organization" he has not been charged with a crime and is a permanent legal resident of the U.S. The case is likely to raise a lot of debate about what constitutes support for a terrorist organization, specifically what constitutes material support and where the lines between 1st amendment rights and said support are drawn.

    All that and more on this edition of Parallax Views!

  • On this edition of Parallax Views, Terrifier 2 & Terrifier 3's star final girl, Lauren LaVera, has a new fright flick, The Fetus, coming out on March 7th that'll combine comedy and body horror! And it'll also feature horror icon Bill Moseley, know for his roles as the brutal killer Otis Driftwood in Rob Zombie's House of 1000 Corpses & The Devil's Rejects and the demented Choptop in Tobe Hooper's The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2, in a deliciously macabre role as a blind veteran with psychotic side. As you can probably surmise from the title, the movie will tackle pregnancy horror and creature feature thrills vis-à-vis a demonic baby. If you're a fan of 80s horrors like John Carpenter's The Thing or Wes Craven's A Nightmare on Elm Street, you'll be glad to know that the movie relies heavily on practical creature effects. It also promises to be a timely fright flick in light of the debates the rage on in American culture over abortion.

    Joining us to discuss the movie is the film's director, Joe Lam. We'll talk about the experience of working with Lauren LaVera and Bill Moseley, the long process of writing the movie, the influence of Orson Welles' Citizen Kane on Joe, the film's use of practical effects and the award-winning work of Alex Rojas on the creature effects, the decision to release The Fetus unrated and increasing obsolescence of the MPAA ratings system in the age of streaming, thoughts on Sean Baker's Oscar speech in which he made a call for defending independent film and movie theaters in an age where both are under threat, balancing comedy/humor and horror, the importance of story and character development in Joe Lam's approach to horror, and much, much more!

  • "It’s astonishing to me that, despite the blizzard of barbarism currently being visited on them, Palestinians continue to produce such stunning writing. This excellent compilation is essential reading.”

    The above are the words of praise Brian Eno, long-time activist and one of the most consequential musicians of our time (as evidenced by his induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame with Roxy Music; and that doesn't even touch on his contributions to electronica and ambient music), heaped on Sumūd: A New Palestinian Reader. Co-edited by Malu Halasa and Jordan Elgrably of The Markaz Review, a literature and arts from the center of the world and the diasporas of the Middle East and North Africa, this volume gives voice to the culture of Palestinians and its relationship to political resistance.

    On this edition of Parallax Views, Malu Halasa joins us to discuss Sumūd: A New Palestinian Reader and the collection of poetry, visual art of all kinds (from conceptual art to posters), literary criticism, and even speculative fiction/science fiction contained within it. Although many, especially since the war in Gaza, have become aware of the political dimensions of the Palestinian people, Sumūd: A New Palestinian Reader highlights the cultural dimension that is sometimes overlooked. However, that is not to say that the poltiical dimension is ignored in book. In fact, Sumūd: A New Palestinian Reader illustrates the connection, the ties that bind, between the cultural and the political for Palestinians. Contributors to the book include Israeli New Historian Ilan Pappe, noted Gaza expert Sara Roy, Palestinian-American poet Noor Hindi, Paris-based journalist Olivia Snaije, British-Palestinian writer Ahmed Masoud (whose speculative fiction/sci-fi short story "Application 39" is featured in the book and a topic of discussion in our conversation), Gaza's Theater for Everybody founder Hossam Madhoum, and many, many more!

    We'll discuss a number of topics in this conversation including Gaza, political resistance, Palestinian humor, allowing Palestinian voices to speak for themselves, and much, much more!

  • On this edition of Parallax Views w/ J.G. Michael, award-winning journalist and author Simon Parkin joins us to discuss his latest book, The Forbidden Garden: The Botanists of Besieged Leningrad and Their Impossible Choice. This gripping true story explores the incredible sacrifice of scientists at the world’s first seed bank, who risked—and even gave—their lives to protect a vast collection of plant biodiversity during the brutal Siege of Leningrad in World War II. We dive into the differing scientific views of pioneering botanist and geneticist Nikolai Vavilov and Soviet agronomist Trofim Lysenko, whose controversial theories led to disastrous agricultural policies and whose influence in the Soviet Union did Vavilov no favors.

    In the latter part of the conversation, Parkin shares insights from his work as a video game journalist, addressing concerns about the "Fortnite-ification" of the gaming industry—where games are increasingly developed as just monetized content rather than as artistic experiences. We also discuss his Atlantic article, "How a School Shooting Became a Video Game", which covers The Final Exam, a controversial video game designed to raise awareness about school shootings. Created by Change the Ref, an organization founded by Manuel and Patricia Oliver after their son Joaquin was killed in the 2018 Parkland shooting, the game forces players to experience the horror of a school shooting scenario—not for shock value, but to confront the grim reality of gun violence in America.

    Tune in for this powerful discussion on history, science, video games, and social issues—only on Parallax Views w/ J.G. Michael.

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    On this edition of Parallax Views, it's Valentine's Day Parallax Views special! And to celebrate the J.G. decided to dig up an interview that was previously unreleased related to holiday.

    In 1981, George Mihalka's Canadian slasher My Bloody Valentine hit theaters. In the years since it has become a cult classic, enough so, in fact, to get a Hollywood remake in 2009 directed by Wes Craven protege Patrick Lussier & starring heartthrob Jensen Ackles from the hit TV show Supernatural. The original movie, in which a town known as Valentine Bluffs experiences a series of murders seemingly committed by a vengeful, deranged miner known as Harry Warden, has never received a proper sequel. Fans of the movie, however, came together to get a professionally done, feature-length fan sequel. It's called Valentine Bluffs: A My Bloody Valentine Fan Film and even features a guest starring performance from Troma's Lloyd Kaufman as the Mayor of Valentine Bluffs. It features all the bloody mayhem one would expect from a sequel to My Bloody Valentine, and, best of all for fans of 80s horror, features lovingly made practical effects rather than CGI.

    In this previously unreleased interview, I speak with director and special effects artist Tom Smith and lead actress Rachel Keefe about Valentine Bluffs: A My Bloody Valentine Fan Film in-depth! You can view the fan film for free on Youtube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RIIOv49awUU. Near the end of the conversation Rachel talks about her upcoming role in Joe Lam's horror movie The Fetus. As it turns out, The Fetus is set to be released next month, March 2025, and, in addition to Rachel Keefe, stars Terrifier 2 and Terrifier 3's Lauren LaVera as well as genre stalwart Bill Moseley from Rob Zombie's House of 1000 Corpses, The Devil's Rejects, and Tobe Hooper's The Texas Chainsaw Massacre! All that and more on this edition of Parallax Views!

  • On this edition of Parallax Views, another year has passed and longtime listeners will know what that means: a look back at the news that DIDN'T get adequately covered by the corporate press. Yes, it's that time again. The annual Project Censored check-in to Parallax Views. This time we have not one but two guests from Project Censored: the returning Mickey Huff and first-time guest Shealeigh Voitl. We'll look back at the state of the media ecosystem in a turbulent year that ended with Donald Trump being elected President for a second time. We'll look at the problem of junk food news, important stories that haven't received their due coverage in the news, and much more in this conversation!

  • On this edition of Parallax Views, last week President Donald Trump told reporters on Air Force One that he'd like to "clean out" war-torn Gaza. He suggested Egypt or Jordan take Palestinian refugees. Joining us to discuss Trump's floated idea of "cleaning out" Gaza is the Quincy Institute's Dr. Annelle Sheline. Dr. Sheline made headlines during the Biden-era because she resigned from the State Department over that administration's handling of Gaza. In this conversation Dr. Sheline will explain why Trump's "cleaning out Gaza" idea is concerning, not least of which because it would amount to ethnic cleansing of Palestinians in Gaza. She will also delve into how carrying out the idea would impact the peace between Israel and Jordan.

    In the latter portion of the program, we'll discuss the potential factional disputes in Trump's administration over U.S. foreign policy as it relates to the Middle East.

  • On this edition of Parallax Views, Antiwar.Com's Dave DeCamp joins the show to discuss Trump's appointment of Michael DiMino, a former CIA analyst and fellow at the realist and restraint think tank Defense Priorities, to head up Middle East policy at the Pentagon. DiMino, if his past comments are any indication, wants U.S. involvement in the Middle East to be drastically reduced. We'll also Trump envoy Steve Witkoff (specifically in relation to Gaza and Iran), Trump redesignating Cuba as a state sponsor of terror, Trump's comments about possible military intervention to deal with Mexican drug cartels, Trump's controversial statements about Greenland and the Panama Canal, and much more.

  • In this hard-hitting episode of Parallax Views w/ J.G. Michael, we welcome Chris Gunness, former Director of Communications and Advocacy for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), to discuss Israel's controversial ban on UNRWA and its far-reaching consequences for both Palestinians and Israelis. With the Knesset's legislation poised to expel UNRWA from Jerusalem and restrict its humanitarian operations, the episode delves into the grave repercussions of this move, including its impact on over 63,000 Palestinian refugees in East Jerusalem and the broader implications for regional stability.

    Gunness breaks down how this decision not only undermines UNRWA’s vital services, such as education, healthcare, and food aid, but also sets the stage for the de facto annexation of Jerusalem in violation of international law, as highlighted by the International Court of Justice's (ICJ) recent ruling.

    Tune in for a compelling discussion that unpacks the complex layers of this issue and why it’s not only a humanitarian crisis but also a political and moral one that could harm not only Palestinians but also Israel itself. We will discuss Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem in the course of this conversation and Chris will answer questions about some of the attacks that have been made on UNRWA in the past year.

    This is a must-listen episode for those seeking a deeper understanding of the intersection between international law, humanitarian aid, and the ongoing conflict in Israel-Palestine. Don’t miss it!

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    On this edition of Parallax Views, Victor Pickard, C. Edwin Baker Professor of Media Policy and Political Economy at the University of Pennsylvania's Annenberg School for Communication and Co-Director of the Media, Inequality & Change Center at said school, joins the show to discuss America's broken media ecosystem in the age of Donald Trump. Much of this conversation will be based around an article Pickard wrote for Election Analysis immediately after the 2024 Presidential election entitled "Under media oligarchy: Profit and power trumped democracy once again". We will also discuss way that American media could be repaired today, how we can fix the media ecosystem, and the promise of Indymedia models for reviving journalism and reporting in the United States. Some other issues covered throughout the course of our conversation include: public funding of media, the BBC vs. American media, news deserts and the consequences of the decline in local newspapers/outlets, and much, much more.

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    On this edition of Parallax Views, Arno Rosenfeld, a reporter for one of America's most prominent Jewish publications, The Forward, joins the show to discuss his reporting on the right-wing, conservative think tank The Heritage's Foundation's Project Esther. Laid out as a plan to combat antisemitism, some have noticed the Project Esther seems to promote a conspiracy theory around the causes of antisemitism that is itself pulling from antisemitic conspiracy tropes. According to Project Esther, pro-Palestinian activism and antisemitism is the result of a "Hamas Support Network". In a PowerPoint presentation Project Esther point towards Jewish figures like billionaire George Soros and Illinois Governor JB Pritzker as the "masterminds" of cabal fueling antisemitism today. Beyond the conspiratorial nature of this claim and the fact that it's arguably promoting an antisemitic conspiracy theory itself, Rosenfeld has reported on how the Heritage Foundation's approach to combatting antisemitism differs from that of Jewish institutions and discusses how American Jewish institutions have been wary to endorse the Heritage Foundation project.

    These are Rosenfeld's reports on Project Esther:

    "Project Esther docs describe conspiracy of Jewish ‘masterminds’"

    "Scoop: Heritage Foundation plans to ‘identify and target’ Wikipedia editors – The Forward"

    We will discuss the second article mentioned above and the concerns that the Heritage Foundation's plans of targeting Wikipedia editors has raised.

    Additionally, Arno and I will delve into the fault lines that exist in American Jewish political life today. This will make up the second half of our conversation and delves into the differences between legacy American Jewish institutions (what Jewish journalists like Rosenfeld and JTA's Ron Kampeas have called the American Jewish Establishment) and American Jews as a whole. This leads to a discussion of how American Jews are not a monolith. We will also discuss the impact of newer, counter-institutions like J Street on American Jewish political life, divisions in the American Jewish community over how to fight antisemitism, and much, much more.