David Baddiel, a British comedian and author known for his sharp insights on Jewish identity, joins the conversation to discuss his book, 'Jews Don’t Count.' He tackles the double standards in addressing antisemitism compared to other forms of racism and shares personal stories from his family's escape from Nazi Germany. Baddiel also reflects on the complexities of Jewish representation in media and the emotional landscape of his atheism. With humor and honesty, he navigates the nuances of contemporary anti-Jewish racism, emphasizing the need for recognition and dialogue.
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Football Anti-Semitism Incident
David Baddiel shared his experience of anti-Semitic abuse at football matches, especially at Chelsea games against Tottenham.
He described how a specific incident of abuse directed at him and his brother was ignored by officials despite clear evidence.
insights INSIGHT
Jews as a Racism 'Glitch'
Jews do not fit neatly into the binary of oppressed versus oppressor common in today's understanding of racism.
This complicates perceptions of antisemitism and leads to their exclusion from certain minority discussions.
insights INSIGHT
Anti-Semitism Is Racism
Anti-Semitism is often mistakenly viewed as religious intolerance instead of racism based on birth.
Baddiel prefers the term anti-Jewish racism to clarify this and avoid confusion.
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In this nonfiction essay collection, Dara Horn examines why society is more fascinated with the death of Jews than with the lives of living Jews. She weaves together history, social science, and personal stories to critique the public's obsession with Jewish history, particularly the Holocaust, and how this obsession can be a profound affront to human dignity. Horn discusses various topics such as the veneration of Anne Frank, the mythology surrounding Jewish family names at Ellis Island, and the life of Varian Fry, a 'Righteous Among the Nations.' She also reflects on her own family life and the impact of antisemitism on her children's school experiences. The book argues that the reverence for past Jewish tragedies does not translate into respect for contemporary Jewish life and that this disparity contributes to the ongoing rise of antisemitism.
Jews Don't Count
David Baddiel
In this book, David Baddiel argues that antisemitism is often overlooked or downplayed by progressives who otherwise champion social justice. He discusses the 'hierarchy of racisms' that places antisemitism at a lower level of importance and highlights double standards in how antisemitism is addressed compared to other forms of racism. Baddiel explores various topics including under-representation of Jews in media, the relationship between Jews and white privilege, and the distinction between anti-Zionism and antisemitism. He also reflects on his personal experiences and engages with contemporary debates in politics, sports, and culture to make a compelling case for why Jews should be recognized as a legitimate minority group facing unique forms of discrimination.
David Baddiel — comedian, author, public intellectual, and the UK’s most outspoken Jewish voice — joins Jonah to unpack the core ideas behind his groundbreaking book Jews Don’t Count. With his characteristic wit and unflinching eye for truth, Baddiel deconstructs contemporary anti-Jew racism, explaining how it functions, its origins, why it persists in “progressive” spaces, how it’s different from traditional antisemitism, and why Jews are so often excluded from conversations about representation, identity, and minority status.
💬 Topics include:
The double standards in how antisemitism is treated compared to other forms of racism
Baddiel’s confusingJewish upbringing and identity struggles
His family’s escape from Nazi Germany and his grandfather’s unjust internment on the Isle of Man
Antisemitism in UK football culture
What it means to be a “Non-Zionist”
Baddiel’s atheist yearning for divine comfort aka The God Desire
His podcast with Muslim politician Sayeeda Warsi: A Jew and a Muslim Go There 🎧
And why “Jews don’t count” as a minority when it comes to media representation on shows like Friends and Seinfeld 📺
This is a must-watch conversation for anyone interested in understanding contemporary antisemitism, generational trauma, and the challenges of fighting anti-Jew racism in today’s complex “woke” climate.
Like, subscribe, and share to help us keep these important conversations going.
Host & Production Team
Host: Jonah Platt; Produced by Rainbow Creative (Executive Producer: Matthew Jones; Story Producer: Sean Leviashvili; Editors: Patrick Edwards & Nathan Wheatley); Consulting Producer: Bethany Mandel; Research Associate: Samantha Greenwald; Executive Assistant: Josie Rothschild; Creative Associate: Rachel Stern; Social Media Manager: Yuval Yosha; Graphic Designer Noah Bell; Interns: Sasha Nelson & Emma Webb
Being Jewish with Jonah Platt 
