On the Nose

On Christmas, director Josh Safdie released his new film, Marty Supreme, starring Timothée Chalamet as a young table-tennis player bent on global recognition. Like Safdie’s previous film—Uncut Gems, co-directed with his brother Benny Safdie—Marty Supreme focuses on an American Jewish antihero and unfolds in a deeply Jewish milieu. But while Uncut Gems takes place in present-day New York, Marty Supreme transports us back to the Lower East Side of 1952, examining American Jewish ambition in the immediate aftermath of the Holocaust and amid assimilation into whiteness. This mid-century setting is complicated by various anachronistic elements, including a soundtrack rooted in the ’80s and, perhaps most notably, Chalamet’s conspicuous lack of a period-accurate accent. On this episode of On the Nose, Jewish Currents editor-in-chief Arielle Angel, senior editor Nathan Goldman, contributing editor David Klion, and contributing writer Mitch Abidor discuss what, if anything, the film has to say about American Jewishness then and now.Thanks to Jesse Brenneman for producing and to Nathan Salsburg for the use of his song “VIII (All That Were Calculated Have Passed).”Media Mentioned and Further ReadingUncut Gems, dir. Josh and Benny Safdie“An Unserious Man,” Jewish Currents“Marty Supreme’s Megawatt Personality,” Richard Brody, The New YorkerWhat Makes Sammy Run? by Budd SchulbergErik Baker’s Letterboxd reviewMarie Antoinette, dir. Sofia CoppolaAnti-Semite and Jew by Jean-Paul Sartre“Marty Supreme Is the Moment, With Josh Safdie!,” The Big PictureTough Jews by Rich CohenMari Cohen on Sally Rooney’s Beautiful World, Where Are You, Jewish Currents Shabbat Reading List“Demon Doubt,” Vivian Gornick, interview by Rebecca Tuhus-Dubrow, Boston Review“Is This Anything?,” Mitchell Abidor, Jewish Currents

On Saturday, January 3rd, President Trump announced that a military raid on Caracas had captured Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, and brought him back to the US to face drug charges. The operation followed months of deadly US strikes against boats purportedly ferrying drugs from Venezuela and a military buildup off its coast. But even after Maduro was seized, the administration still could not, or would not, clearly explain its intense interest in Venezuela any more than it could explain its plans for the country. And beyond the practicalities of “running” Venezuela, as Trump said the US would be doing, are even more disturbing questions about what comes next under the “Donroe doctrine”—the administration’s update of the 202-year-old Monroe Doctrine, which was used to justify generations of US interventions throughout the Western Hemisphere. This episode of On the Nose turns to a foremost expert on US interference in Latin America, Greg Grandin, to help us understand the historical context of Trump’s surge—and what it may suggest about his military adventures going forward. A Pulitzer Prize-winning history professor at Yale, Grandin has written several books on the tangled history of the US and Latin America, including his sweeping 2025 chronicle, America, América: A New History of the New World. Jewish Currents editor-at-large Peter Beinart asks Grandin to break down the political situation in Venezuela and the history of its nationalized oil reserves—and to explain what Trump’s new doctrine of pure power may hold in store for the US and the Americas. This episode originally appeared on The Beinart Notebook on Substack. Thanks to Daniel Kaufman for editing help and to Nathan Salsburg for the use of his song “VIII (All That Were Calculated Have Passed).” Books Mentioned and Further ReadingAmerica, América: A New History of the New World by Greg Grandin Empire’s Workshop: Latin America, the United States, and the Making of an Imperial Republic by Greg Grandin The End of the Myth: From the Frontier to the Border Wall in the Mind of America by Greg Grandin “What the ‘Donroe Doctrine’ is and where Trump could use it next,” Rebecca Falconer and Julianna Bragg, Axios “After Venezuela, Trump Offers Hints About What Could Be Next,” David E. Sanger, The New York Times “The Trump Doctrine,” Patrick Iber, DissentTranscript forthcoming.

In this discussion, human rights lawyer Sarah Schwartz offers insights into the tragic Bondi Beach shooting, highlighting its impact on the Australian Jewish community. She critiques the political responses, particularly the controversial 20-point plan from antisemitism envoy Gillian Segal, and the danger of conflating the attack with Palestinian activism. Schwartz advocates for a nuanced understanding of anti-Semitism and emphasizes the importance of community solidarity and evidence-based responses to such violence. The conversation reveals the complexities of Australian politics and the urgent need for clear discourse.

In this engaging discussion, Sarah Aziza, a Palestinian-American writer known for her memoir The Hollow Half, and Tareq Baconi, a policy analyst and author of Fire in Every Direction, explore the complexities of Palestinian identity. They share personal experiences from their childhoods, highlighting the emotional weight of diaspora and resilience. The conversation delves into themes of love, queerness, and the necessity of transforming silence into speech, emphasizing the political dimensions of claiming a Palestinian identity against a backdrop of history and displacement.

Antony Loewenstein, an independent journalist and author of The Palestine Laboratory, teams up with Rhys Machold, a senior lecturer at the University of Glasgow and critic of the so-called 'Zionist exceptionalism.' They dive into the implications of Israel’s military tech exports, revealing how violence in Gaza is replicated globally. The discussion critiques the myth of Israeli innovation, exploring Israel's reliance on Western allies and the quality of its arms. The guests also debate whether Israel's strength comes from technology or political impunity and ponder its future in the geopolitical landscape.

Noah Kulwin, writer and co-host of Blowback, and Ryan Grim, investigative reporter from Drop Site News, delve into the intricate web surrounding Jeffrey Epstein. They explore Epstein's rise, his ambiguous financial roles, and his connections to intelligence networks, particularly in Israel. The guests discuss Epstein's role as a global broker among elite circles and the implications of his actions within capitalism and political power dynamics. They also confront the potential dangers of framing his story through antisemitic lenses, while examining why mainstream media has hesitated to investigate these connections.

Nadav Weiman, Executive Director of Breaking the Silence, shares harrowing insights into Israeli military conduct in Gaza. He discusses shocking soldier testimonies, including abuse at the Sde Teiman detention camp. Weiman sheds light on the 'mosquito protocol,' where Palestinians were used as human shields, revealing systematic military practices rather than isolated incidents. He further explores the societal dehumanization of Palestinians, evidenced by public applause for soldiers accused of war crimes, and the challenges of accountability and activism that arise from these testimonies.

Daniel May, publisher of Jewish Currents, joins Ben Lorber, a researcher on antisemitism, and Andrew Marantz, a New Yorker writer, to discuss the recent mainstreaming of anti-Zionist sentiments within the right-wing. They dissect Tucker Carlson's controversial interviews, the rise of figures like Nick Fuentes, and how these interactions reflect a shift in conservative ideology. The conversation also explores the dangers of normalizing hateful rhetoric and the intersections of Christian and white nationalism, ultimately warning against anti-Zionism that aligns with reactionary goals.

Last week, a group calling itself The Jewish Majority published a “Rabbinic Call to Action” aimed at New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani in the last weeks of the campaign. “We cannot remain silent in the face of rising anti-Zionism and its political normalization throughout our nation,” the letter reads. Signed by over 1,100 rabbis, the letter quotes New York rabbis Ammiel Hirsch and Elliot Cosgrove, who had each issued their own anti-Zohran sermons and videos, insisting that Mamdani poses a danger to the safety of the city’s Jews and that Zionism is an inextricable part of Jewish identity.On this episode of On the Nose, Jewish Currents editor-in-chief Arielle Angel, editor-at-large Peter Beinart, senior reporter Alex Kane, and advisory board member Simone Zimmerman discuss this rabbinic campaign, what it means for the sizable Jewish minority who supports Mamdani, and what it says about the priorities of institutional Judaism at a moment of profound political instability.Thanks to Jesse Brenneman for producing and to Nathan Salsburg for the use of his song “VIII (All That Were Calculated Have Passed).”Articles and Media Mentioned and Further ReadingRabbi Cosgrove’s sermon on MamdaniRabbi Ammiel Hirsch on Mamdani“Why Mamdani Frightens Jews Like Me,” Bret Stephens, The New York TimesThe Jewish Majority, “A Rabbinic Call to Action”“Brad Lander’s Campaign of Solidarity,” On the Nose“Tax the Rich” post on X by Maria DanziloHalachic Left High Holidays reader“Zohran Mamdani is not antisemitic, Satmar’s Brooklyn leadership says,” Jerusalem Post“Jewish New York’s reckoning with Zohran Mamdani,” Noa Yachot, The Guardian“Many American Jews sharply critical on Gaza, Post poll finds,” Naftali Bendavid, Scott Clement, and Emily Guskin, The Washington Post“‘The Issue is Not the Issue’ – The Free Speech Movement 1964 - The Anti-Mamdani Craze,” Shaul Magid on SubstackMamdani’s video “My Message to Muslim New Yorkers—and Everyone Who Calls This City Home”“The racism and Islamophobia behind many of the attacks on Zohran Mamdani,” Richard Luscombe, The Guardian“Religion, Secularism, and the Jewish Left,” On the Nose“The Anti-Soros Strategy at the Heart of Trump’s War on Progressive Nonprofits,” Alex Kane, Jewish Currents“Trump’s war on the left: Inside the plan to investigate liberal groups,” Nandita Bose, Jana Winter, Jeff Mason, Tim Reid, and Ted Hesson, ReutersBeyond Israelism with Simone Zimmerman on ZeteoTranscript forthcoming. 

For the second year in a row, Rabbis for Ceasefire held a Yizkor service on the streets of Brooklyn, using the traditional Yom Kippur memorial service as a means to mourn the dead in Gaza, to atone for American and Jewish communal participation in the genocide, and to refuse further complicity. After the Yizkor service—attended by 1,500 people and watched online by ten times that number—rabbis and others blocked the Brooklyn Bridge while performing the Ne’ilah service that closes the holy day; dozens were arrested. In this episode, Jewish Currents editor-in-chief Arielle Angel speaks with Rabbis for Ceasefire organizers Alissa Wise and Elliot Kukla about their experience planning and carrying out this ritual action, and what it revealed about the nature of the tradition itself. They also discuss the power of collective grief, and the difference and interrelation between Palestine solidarity work and the work of building a Judaism beyond Zionism. This episode is dedicated to the memory of Rabbi Arthur Waskow. Thanks to Jesse Brenneman for producing and to Nathan Salsburg for the use of his song “VIII (All That Were Calculated Have Passed).”Articles Mentioned and Further ReadingRabbis for Ceasefire Yizkor service on Instagram“Jewish activist and leader Rabbi Arthur Waskow dies at 92,” Deena Prichep, NPR“‘Chronic traumatic stress disorder’: the Palestinian psychiatrist challenging western definitions of trauma,” Bethan McKernan, The Guardian“Can the Palestinian Mourn?,” Abdeljawad Omar, Rusted Radishes“‘They Destroyed What Was Inside Us’: Children with Disabilities Amid Israel’s Attacks on Gaza,” Human Rights Watch Report“The Right to Grieve,” Erik Baker, Jewish Currents“Synagogue Struggles,” On the Nose“We Need New Jewish institutions,” Arielle Angel, Jewish CurrentsTranscript forthcoming.