Oh look, it's Wesley Bell, who benefited from over $8 million in AIPAC funds to defeat the pro-Palestinian progressive Cori Bush. It was one of the most expensive House races in US history, almost entirely because of AIPAC and other pro-Israel PACs. He is one of the top recipients of AIPAC funding in all of Congress.
It's 'funny' how The Contrarian has featured several pieces Tom Malinowski, a 'pro-Israel moderate' Democrat, and convos between Rubin and Malinowski, where they have criticized AIPAC at length for interfering with US elections, but there has never been a word here about AIPAC's attacks on critics of Israel's genocide and apartheid, like Cori Bush and Jamaal Bowman, by propping up candidates like Bell. The Contrarian is only concerned when AIPAC directs its attacks on supporters of Israel who only offer tepid criticism of Israel's war crimes, not when AIPAC funded candidates defeat critics of genocide and apartheid.
Like many other 'moderates' Bel's criticism of the US/Israeli war in Iran has mostly been about the fact that Congress wasn't asked first, not that this unprovoked war is blatantly immoral and illegal. Back in June 2025, when Israel and the US killed 1000 people in Iran, Bell could only say he was 'concerned about protecting our service members' while making sure to note that 'Israel is well within its rights to take those threats seriously.'
We need fighters like Cori Bush back Here's hoping she wins her primary and defeats Bell. AIPAC has already endorsed Bell, again. Will The Contrarian say anything about this?
For one thing, in a discussion about voting rights and access and the huge flaws in the US election system, it is entirely relevant to mention that Bell was the beneficiary of one of the most powerful lobbying groups in the US, who spent a massive amount of cash to put him in office.
Bell was planning to run for Senate, and even personally told Bush he would not run against her, until AIPAC entered the picture for him. Bell's primary benefactor, by far, was not a lobbying group supporting any 'internal politics'..at least directly.
Which leads to another thing: The US's unique and toxic relationship with Israel extends far beyond foreign policy. While the US/Israeli alliance is arguably the most important factor in US foreign affairs in many ways, especially in recent years (not the least being the current war with Iran), this relationship currently impacts everything from US gas prices and inflation to free speech issues to the federal budget to immigration issues to even local races (the topic of Israel was all over the NYC mayoral race, as one example).
Last, as I mentioned above, this is a particular issue for The Contrarian itself. Rubin, Eisen, Malinowski and others here have repeatedly, and correctly, criticizes the pervasive and harmful impact of AIPAC on US elections. But they undermine their own argument by limiting that criticism to its effect on 'pro-Israel', 'moderate' candidates, like Malinowski himself, while completely ignoring its much greater impact on 'pro-Palestinian' candidates like Bush.
Oh look, it's Wesley Bell, who benefited from over $8 million in AIPAC funds to defeat the pro-Palestinian progressive Cori Bush. It was one of the most expensive House races in US history, almost entirely because of AIPAC and other pro-Israel PACs. He is one of the top recipients of AIPAC funding in all of Congress.
It's 'funny' how The Contrarian has featured several pieces Tom Malinowski, a 'pro-Israel moderate' Democrat, and convos between Rubin and Malinowski, where they have criticized AIPAC at length for interfering with US elections, but there has never been a word here about AIPAC's attacks on critics of Israel's genocide and apartheid, like Cori Bush and Jamaal Bowman, by propping up candidates like Bell. The Contrarian is only concerned when AIPAC directs its attacks on supporters of Israel who only offer tepid criticism of Israel's war crimes, not when AIPAC funded candidates defeat critics of genocide and apartheid.
Like many other 'moderates' Bel's criticism of the US/Israeli war in Iran has mostly been about the fact that Congress wasn't asked first, not that this unprovoked war is blatantly immoral and illegal. Back in June 2025, when Israel and the US killed 1000 people in Iran, Bell could only say he was 'concerned about protecting our service members' while making sure to note that 'Israel is well within its rights to take those threats seriously.'
We need fighters like Cori Bush back Here's hoping she wins her primary and defeats Bell. AIPAC has already endorsed Bell, again. Will The Contrarian say anything about this?
Everything is not about Israel. American has its own internal politics which must not be subordinated to world affairs.
For one thing, in a discussion about voting rights and access and the huge flaws in the US election system, it is entirely relevant to mention that Bell was the beneficiary of one of the most powerful lobbying groups in the US, who spent a massive amount of cash to put him in office.
Bell was planning to run for Senate, and even personally told Bush he would not run against her, until AIPAC entered the picture for him. Bell's primary benefactor, by far, was not a lobbying group supporting any 'internal politics'..at least directly.
Which leads to another thing: The US's unique and toxic relationship with Israel extends far beyond foreign policy. While the US/Israeli alliance is arguably the most important factor in US foreign affairs in many ways, especially in recent years (not the least being the current war with Iran), this relationship currently impacts everything from US gas prices and inflation to free speech issues to the federal budget to immigration issues to even local races (the topic of Israel was all over the NYC mayoral race, as one example).
Last, as I mentioned above, this is a particular issue for The Contrarian itself. Rubin, Eisen, Malinowski and others here have repeatedly, and correctly, criticizes the pervasive and harmful impact of AIPAC on US elections. But they undermine their own argument by limiting that criticism to its effect on 'pro-Israel', 'moderate' candidates, like Malinowski himself, while completely ignoring its much greater impact on 'pro-Palestinian' candidates like Bush.
Great show April. Hope to see you in Montgomery.