Although this is not one of your great civic lesson shorts, it is a great article, Ben. I love your entire article and I agree with everything you said. Congratulations.
My comment to Meredith Blake's article was dissed by someone who made a veiled accusation of my being antisemitic, because I accused Kraft and Ellison of using the hammer of antisemitism whenever anyone criticizes Israel's genocide against the Palestinians, especially in Gaza, but also more and more what Jewish "settlers" are doing in the Westjordanland, with the help of the IDF.
When I wrote that comment, I did not know Kraft and Ellison are Jewish, just as I did not know you are Jewish.
It never occurs to me to find out what religion anyone is, because I do not care. The person her/himself is important to me and whether they are tolerant. I couldn't care less about their religion.
And I say it again: being against Israel's genocide against Palestinians is not equal to being antisemitic.
I not sure if it is even worth engaging comments that are barely even rational? I never mind engaging in good faith argument..but some comments here (like there were on Blake's column) range from fundamentally misleading and ignoring major points of the issue, to outright obvious falsehoods, to looney tune cuckoo-for-cocoa-pufffs bat$h!t crazytown.
Once again for those in the back, Israel is a state, not a religion.
I really wonder if these people posting these hysterical comments would even recognize Macklemore if they heard him on the radio… or can point out what part of his speech quoted at length in this article is remotely antisemitic.
Well written article. I learned alot. You brought out the disputes in detail. Showed how kind the parties involved are. There were really great examples of kindness and marketing.You also provided hope for a resolution. Thank you for a great article.
Yeah, if Kraft had publicly denounced Macklemore but still allow him to perform, that would have been better for Kraft. But he’s a mega-billionaire who likely thinks he’s all-knowing, all-wise, doesn’t need to consult with anyone before speaking publicly or acting capriciously. A common failing among the ultra-wealthy.
Thank you for putting the emphasis on Kraft where it belonged. He is NOT a decent man. I particularly like your personal mention of Macklemore and Sheeran and who they were outside of their "persona" on the stage.
I commented in another publication at the beginning of the conflict that, yes, what Hamas did, killing what, 1200 Israelis and kidnapping hundreds was despicable. But, what the IDF and Benjamin Netanyahu did and is still doing is the same, as far as I'm concerned, as what the Nazis did to the Jewish people during WWII. If Mr. Kraft can't see that, he's blind. Or maybe he just considers Palestinians less than human. They(Israel) are committing genocide, period! Even the United Nations says so. The ICC has a warrant out for Netanyahu's arrest for, I believe, war crimes. I'm a New Englander, was always a Pats fan, but now? I don't think I'll be watching much football anymore. Plus, Kraft is a friend of von schitzenpants, so another fumble on his part.
I’m sorry there is a central point being missed here. It is not Ok to basically ambush Jewish concertgoers. For all the insistence that being anti Israel or anti Zionist is not antisemitic, in reality that is not the way things have played out on college campuses, near synagogues, in street demonstrations and certainly not in social media. No one pays to go out for a good time in order to be vilified. There is nothing anyone can say to me that would make me believe that this scenario and discussion would unfold the same way if the target were another minority group. Jews are entitled to take a stand in their own defense and Mr Kraft is within his rights to say “My house, my rules.” I applaud him for doing so.
Thanks for sharing Macklemore's full statement, something the mainstream media has neglected to do. Robert Kraft is the villain here, as he is at the Kennedy Center where his wife, thanks to his MAGA contributions, is a Kennedy Center trustee and doing her best to wreak havoc on that esteemed arts center.
I feel for Ed Sheeran for the reasons that you noted. It was totally unfair of Kraft to throw a wrench in the works of this tour. If Kraft had issues with Macklemore, as he clearly has for a number of years, he should have made it clear that Macklemore was not welcome at Gillette Stadium when the line up was announced. But he didn't and now here we are. I hope that Macklemore sits down with Kraft to talk this through, but this is no time for a tea party. Macklemore needs to ask Kraft how he can talk about "peace for all people, an end to suffering, and an end to all hate" while being such a fervent Trump supporter. People like Kraft need to be called out for the evil that they are condoning and underwriting - exactly the opposite of his "peace" comment - under this Trump kakistocracy (rule by the worst).
You should check out the facts! There is no famine in Gaza. Recent report from CREDIBLE sources showed those in Gaza better fed than in any of the surrounding middleeastern countries. Of course, the story was buried in the back pages. BBC is NOT a credible source. They have long been acknowleged as biased against Israel.
70,000 may have been killed. That is different from 70000 murdered. Also, how many of those 70000 were combatants and facilitators of terrorism? Finally, 70,000 out of population of over 2 million though sad does not constitute genocide. There is not the requisite evidence of intent or substantiality of numbers. Be more careful with your language. Tropes and slogans don't advance truth and only inflame the situation
The 70,000+ number has been agreed upon by both the Gaza Health Ministry and by the IDF (as of January 2026). But you're correct that there isn't a public consensus on the civilian:combatant ratio. The IDF claims a 3:2 ratio (civilians: combatants). Leaked IDF data shows a 5:1 ratio (civilian:combatant). Other independent reviews show as high as 8:1 (civilian:combatant). Whichever metric you choose, it's true that the majority of those killed in Gaza weren't combatants. And this holds true if you account for the 170,000+ injured as well.
Let's be very clear. Kraft did NOT say he was willing to sit down with Macklemore our of any interest in discussing their different opinions. He was taking heat for suppressing free speech due to his own bias - not based on facts.
Saying that 70000 have been muedered by Israel is biased and inflammatory. Perhaps 70000 have been killed or died. We dont know because therebis no credible unbiased source of information or verification. Nor do we know how many were combatants or civiluans. We do know that some "children" were combatants per admissions and documents shared by Hamas.
When bombs & missiles are aimed at homes and hospitals, when people INCLUDING CHILDREN are being starved, and when whole neighborhoods & schools are mowed down, IT IS AN ABOMINATION. The ICC has already declared that N has committed war crimes. Try seeking the facts. Try the BBC or the Guardian or Heather Cox Richardson and Jeremiah Fowler.
Great you shared your two cents about mackleschmuck. He’s a Jew hater and he dressed up like a Jew hater he sings songs about Jew hate and the stink of him comes through my phone. So glad the anti Semites were nice to you. 😝 You are the schmuck of the week!!! So cringe. Sincerely lol!!!
Boy, the nasties really come out when it comes to Israel's genocide of Palestinians in Gaza, the Westjordanland and South Lebanon. Being anti-Israel is neither being antisemitic nor a "Jew hater." Ben, I don't think you hate yourself.
Although this is not one of your great civic lesson shorts, it is a great article, Ben. I love your entire article and I agree with everything you said. Congratulations.
My comment to Meredith Blake's article was dissed by someone who made a veiled accusation of my being antisemitic, because I accused Kraft and Ellison of using the hammer of antisemitism whenever anyone criticizes Israel's genocide against the Palestinians, especially in Gaza, but also more and more what Jewish "settlers" are doing in the Westjordanland, with the help of the IDF.
When I wrote that comment, I did not know Kraft and Ellison are Jewish, just as I did not know you are Jewish.
It never occurs to me to find out what religion anyone is, because I do not care. The person her/himself is important to me and whether they are tolerant. I couldn't care less about their religion.
And I say it again: being against Israel's genocide against Palestinians is not equal to being antisemitic.
ps - reading a few comments here - oh lordee.
I not sure if it is even worth engaging comments that are barely even rational? I never mind engaging in good faith argument..but some comments here (like there were on Blake's column) range from fundamentally misleading and ignoring major points of the issue, to outright obvious falsehoods, to looney tune cuckoo-for-cocoa-pufffs bat$h!t crazytown.
Once again for those in the back, Israel is a state, not a religion.
I really wonder if these people posting these hysterical comments would even recognize Macklemore if they heard him on the radio… or can point out what part of his speech quoted at length in this article is remotely antisemitic.
Well written article. I learned alot. You brought out the disputes in detail. Showed how kind the parties involved are. There were really great examples of kindness and marketing.You also provided hope for a resolution. Thank you for a great article.
Yeah, if Kraft had publicly denounced Macklemore but still allow him to perform, that would have been better for Kraft. But he’s a mega-billionaire who likely thinks he’s all-knowing, all-wise, doesn’t need to consult with anyone before speaking publicly or acting capriciously. A common failing among the ultra-wealthy.
Thank you for putting the emphasis on Kraft where it belonged. He is NOT a decent man. I particularly like your personal mention of Macklemore and Sheeran and who they were outside of their "persona" on the stage.
Great analysis! Thank you!
I commented in another publication at the beginning of the conflict that, yes, what Hamas did, killing what, 1200 Israelis and kidnapping hundreds was despicable. But, what the IDF and Benjamin Netanyahu did and is still doing is the same, as far as I'm concerned, as what the Nazis did to the Jewish people during WWII. If Mr. Kraft can't see that, he's blind. Or maybe he just considers Palestinians less than human. They(Israel) are committing genocide, period! Even the United Nations says so. The ICC has a warrant out for Netanyahu's arrest for, I believe, war crimes. I'm a New Englander, was always a Pats fan, but now? I don't think I'll be watching much football anymore. Plus, Kraft is a friend of von schitzenpants, so another fumble on his part.
I’m sorry there is a central point being missed here. It is not Ok to basically ambush Jewish concertgoers. For all the insistence that being anti Israel or anti Zionist is not antisemitic, in reality that is not the way things have played out on college campuses, near synagogues, in street demonstrations and certainly not in social media. No one pays to go out for a good time in order to be vilified. There is nothing anyone can say to me that would make me believe that this scenario and discussion would unfold the same way if the target were another minority group. Jews are entitled to take a stand in their own defense and Mr Kraft is within his rights to say “My house, my rules.” I applaud him for doing so.
Thanks for sharing Macklemore's full statement, something the mainstream media has neglected to do. Robert Kraft is the villain here, as he is at the Kennedy Center where his wife, thanks to his MAGA contributions, is a Kennedy Center trustee and doing her best to wreak havoc on that esteemed arts center.
I feel for Ed Sheeran for the reasons that you noted. It was totally unfair of Kraft to throw a wrench in the works of this tour. If Kraft had issues with Macklemore, as he clearly has for a number of years, he should have made it clear that Macklemore was not welcome at Gillette Stadium when the line up was announced. But he didn't and now here we are. I hope that Macklemore sits down with Kraft to talk this through, but this is no time for a tea party. Macklemore needs to ask Kraft how he can talk about "peace for all people, an end to suffering, and an end to all hate" while being such a fervent Trump supporter. People like Kraft need to be called out for the evil that they are condoning and underwriting - exactly the opposite of his "peace" comment - under this Trump kakistocracy (rule by the worst).
ICC is a joke!
You should check out the facts! There is no famine in Gaza. Recent report from CREDIBLE sources showed those in Gaza better fed than in any of the surrounding middleeastern countries. Of course, the story was buried in the back pages. BBC is NOT a credible source. They have long been acknowleged as biased against Israel.
70,000 may have been killed. That is different from 70000 murdered. Also, how many of those 70000 were combatants and facilitators of terrorism? Finally, 70,000 out of population of over 2 million though sad does not constitute genocide. There is not the requisite evidence of intent or substantiality of numbers. Be more careful with your language. Tropes and slogans don't advance truth and only inflame the situation
The 70,000+ number has been agreed upon by both the Gaza Health Ministry and by the IDF (as of January 2026). But you're correct that there isn't a public consensus on the civilian:combatant ratio. The IDF claims a 3:2 ratio (civilians: combatants). Leaked IDF data shows a 5:1 ratio (civilian:combatant). Other independent reviews show as high as 8:1 (civilian:combatant). Whichever metric you choose, it's true that the majority of those killed in Gaza weren't combatants. And this holds true if you account for the 170,000+ injured as well.
Let's be very clear. Kraft did NOT say he was willing to sit down with Macklemore our of any interest in discussing their different opinions. He was taking heat for suppressing free speech due to his own bias - not based on facts.
Saying that 70000 have been muedered by Israel is biased and inflammatory. Perhaps 70000 have been killed or died. We dont know because therebis no credible unbiased source of information or verification. Nor do we know how many were combatants or civiluans. We do know that some "children" were combatants per admissions and documents shared by Hamas.
The 70,000 number has been accepted by the IDF as of January 2026.
When bombs & missiles are aimed at homes and hospitals, when people INCLUDING CHILDREN are being starved, and when whole neighborhoods & schools are mowed down, IT IS AN ABOMINATION. The ICC has already declared that N has committed war crimes. Try seeking the facts. Try the BBC or the Guardian or Heather Cox Richardson and Jeremiah Fowler.
Great you shared your two cents about mackleschmuck. He’s a Jew hater and he dressed up like a Jew hater he sings songs about Jew hate and the stink of him comes through my phone. So glad the anti Semites were nice to you. 😝 You are the schmuck of the week!!! So cringe. Sincerely lol!!!
Boy, the nasties really come out when it comes to Israel's genocide of Palestinians in Gaza, the Westjordanland and South Lebanon. Being anti-Israel is neither being antisemitic nor a "Jew hater." Ben, I don't think you hate yourself.
“He sings about Jew hate” 😬😬🤔🤔🤔