Rep. Summer Lee, D-Pa., a member of the Squad, and others discuss AIPAC's targeting of progressive Congress members. They highlight the lobby group's efforts in spending millions to influence elections, including focusing on Rep. Jamaal Bowman and Rep. Cori Bush. The podcast explores organizing efforts against campaigns aiming to remove progressive voices from Congress.
The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (APAC) targets progressive candidates in Democratic primaries using significant financial backing to influence elections.
Progressive candidates like Corey Bush and Jamal Bowman combat disinformation and attacks by emphasizing transparency, community-driven solutions, and educating voters about external influences in primary races.
Deep dives
Summer Lee's Background and Leadership
Summer Lee is a history-making powerhouse organizer who has been a transformative leader in Western Pennsylvania. Her track record includes helping elect Pittsburgh's first black mayor, starting movements for public education reform, and defeating a 20-year incumbent to become Western Pennsylvania's first black state senator. Alexandra Rojas discusses how they recruited Summer Lee to run for Congress based on her community work and the resources they were ready to provide, highlighting her commitment to serving all parts of the community.
Challenges Faced by Progressives in the Primaries
Progressive candidates like Corey Bush and Jamal Bowman face challenges from opponents linked to right-wing elements who aim to influence Democratic primaries with significant financial backing. Wesley Bell, Jamal Bowman's opponent, receives funds from anti-abortion Republican donors, contrasting with Bowman's grassroots support. Despite facing attacks and disinformation, the incumbent progressives focus on delivering results aligned with their community's needs and values.
APAC's Role and Spending Strategy
The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (APAC) plays a significant role by funneling GOP donations into Democratic primary races to challenge progressive candidates aligned with working-class values. APAC's multi-million dollar spending aims to influence races like Corey Bush vs. Wesley Bell by creating narratives based on disinformation and attacks. Although APAC avoids overtly addressing Israel-Palestine issues, its funding sources and tactics are scrutinized by movements like Reject AIPAC.
Strategies to Counter APAC's Influence
To counter APAC's influence, progressives focus on speaking truthfully and exposing the sources of attack ads and funding behind their opponents. By emphasizing transparency and community-driven solutions, candidates like Corey Bush and Jamal Bowman seek to maintain authenticity and counter narratives that undermine their values. Progressives leverage earned media, research, and local engagement to educate voters about the implications of external influence on Democratic primary races.
In the weeks after October 7, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee took aim at members of Congress who expressed vocal opposition to Israel’s attacks on Gaza. Focusing on the so-called Squad, the Israel lobby is spending millions to push out members of Congress they view as a threat to the U.S.–Israel relationship. But Rep. Summer Lee, D-Pa., among the Squad members who called for an early ceasefire and whom AIPAC had been hoping to take out, cruised to victory in April. Now the lobby group’s sights are set on Rep. Jamaal Bowman in New York’s 16th Congressional District and Rep. Cori Bush in Missouri’s 1st Congressional District. This week on Deconstructed, Justice Democrats Usamah Andrabi and Alexandra Rojas join Ryan Grim to discuss their organizing efforts to counter campaigns taking aim at progressive members of Congress.
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