A Bit Fruity with Matt Bernstein The Jewish Fear Industrial Complex
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Nov 15, 2025 In this discussion, Simone Zimmerman, a Jewish anti-Zionist organizer, and Matt Lieb, host of Bad Hasbara, tackle the fearmongering surrounding New York's Mayor-Elect Zohran Mamdani. They critique the ADL's controversial ‘Mamdani Monitor’ and discuss how certain Jewish leaders manipulate fear of antisemitism for political gain. The conversation highlights the troubling alliance between right-wing groups and Zionists, all while advocating for a more nuanced approach to combat antisemitism without spreading panic.
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Campaigning With Mamdani
- Matt Bernstein campaigned for Zoran Mamdani and witnessed him engage with Jewish communities directly.
- He found institutional warnings portraying Mamdani as an existential threat to be disconnected from his experience.
ADL's Mission Shift And Consequences
- The ADL has shifted from a civil-rights group to a pro-Israel institutional bully in recent decades.
- Simone Zimmerman and Matt Lieb argue this shift undermines civil-rights work and misframes antisemitism.
Complicated ADL History
- ADL history includes civil rights work but also cooperation with state surveillance and anti-communist efforts.
- That mixed legacy complicates its present-day claim as a neutral antisemitism arbiter.