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AIPAC's Political Shift

39:30 recording · EN · 2 speakers

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Brief overview

AIPAC's own choices turned support for Israel into a litmus test now splitting Democrats.

  1. AIPAC became a proxy for Israel itselfMahler says debating AIPAC is now how Americans debate U.S. support for Israel, and also how they debate big money in politics.
  2. 2015 forced a choice AIPAC never had to makeWhen Obama's Iran deal split American and Israeli interests, AIPAC lined up with Israel against the president.
  3. Targeting moderates is backfiringMalinowski's seat went to a candidate further left on Israel, and Daniel Biss won by running as the anti-AIPAC candidate.
Executive Summary AI
  • Host Rachel Abrams opens by noting that AIPAC has spent a record amount in this year's midterms, mostly in Democratic primaries, to oust or support candidates based on a changing definition of what it means to support Israel.0:11
  • Jonathan Mahler says the 2015 Iran nuclear deal was the first rupture: Netanyahu addressed Congress against Obama's deal, America's and Israel's interests diverged, and AIPAC chose Israel.7:50
  • After the squad's election in 2018 and Jamal Bowman and Cori Bush in 2020, AIPAC abandoned small member donations and created its own super PAC, the United Democracy Project, before the 2022 midterms.13:30
  • In the 2024 cycle it spent $120 million and defeated both Cori Bush and Jamal Bowman, after having endorsed more than 100 candidates in 2022 who backed Trump's effort to overturn the 2020 election.19:35
  • In 2026 AIPAC is targeting moderates — Tom Malinowski in New Jersey (over $2.3 million, and the seat went to a candidate further left) and Daniel Biss in Illinois, who campaigned against AIPAC and won — and is now spending close to $30 million in Michigan for Haley Stevens against Abdul El-Sayed.32:59
Key Quote
“I mean, that was for decades unheard of. That was political suicide for a politician.”
— Jonathan Mahler1:51
Key Quote
“They split. And AIPAC had to line up with one side or the other, and they lined up with Israel.”
— Jonathan Mahler10:37
Key Quote
“I think there is no question that AIPAC is wielding a lot of influence in American politics, like full stop.”
— Jonathan Mahler21:53