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Sam Stein
What do you think makes the perfect snack?
Max Tani
Hmm. It's gotta be when I'm really craving it and it's convenient.
Sam Stein
Could you be more specific?
Max Tani
When it's cravinient.
Alan Dershowitz
Okay.
Max Tani
Like a freshly baked cookie made with real butter, available right down the street at a.m. p.m. Or a savory breakfast sandwich I can grab in just a second at am pm.
Sam Stein
I'm seeing a pattern here.
Max Tani
Well, yeah, we're talking about what I.
Sam Stein
Crave, which is anything from AM pm.
Max Tani
What more could you want? Stop by AM PM where the snacks and drinks are perfectly craveable and convenient. That's cravenience. Am pm Too much. Good stuff.
Sam Stein
And.
Alan Dershowitz
Hey guys, it's Sam Stein. I'm here with Max Tani of Semaphore. We are here to discuss pierogies.
Sam Stein
This is an important topic.
Alan Dershowitz
This is important topic. It's Al Deitz and Pro in a confrontation at a farmer's market with the pierogi stand. We're like two days late to it, but I saw Max kind of tweet and then erase a tweet about it because he thought it was too dumb to deal with. And so I subsequently convinced Max to come on YouTube to discuss it.
Sam Stein
I figured, you know, to tweet, that's too dumb for me to share with my 50 something thousand followers on Twitter should actually be shared with the bulwarks. Millions of subscribers on YouTube.
Alan Dershowitz
And this is, and this is important because there are a few more respected experts on the topic of Martha's Vineyard culinary scene. Alan Dershowitz and pierogies in general. And Max, who is a huge pierogi guy. Right?
Sam Stein
I do love pierogies. Well, Sam, what do you eat your pierogies with? Do you have them with applesauce? Do you eat them with sour cream? How are you?
Alan Dershowitz
Yeah, you gotta go. You got to go. A little combo. It's almost like a vodka. You kind of. You got a little bit of dollop on each and you kind of get it into one bite. You get, get those flavors so good.
Sam Stein
Do you like them fried or do you like them steamed?
Alan Dershowitz
You know, the answer is fried, but it should be steamed.
Sam Stein
It's really tough. It's really tough because I like them. I, I also feel, I mean, who.
Alan Dershowitz
Doesn'T like a good fried pierogi? I mean, and the other thing about this is the pierogi. I mean, every culture has a dumpling, right? This, but this is like the, the sort of like the, the, I think the most satisfying of dumplings because it's just, it Fills you. It's good. It's warm. It's delicious. Anyways, we're gonna. We're getting too into it, really. This is about Alan Dershowitz and his maniacal need to create scenes on Martha's Vineyard every summer. There's always some drama with that guy. He's getting denied some library books and can't go to a restaurant on the Vineyard. It's really tough for the guy.
Sam Stein
It's true. Interestingly, this is. This time doesn't have to do with Trump. I kind of assumed that Trump would. Trump's name would pop up here somewhere, given that Alan Dershowitz defended him and that was the whole reason why he was previously banned. Well, I'm sorry. He previously accused a library of canceling him. The library denies this and of course, eventually did let Alan Dershowitz speak there. But. But that had to do with Trump and his defense of Trump. This apparently, according to Alan Dershowitz, the reason why a pierogi vendor in Martha's Vineyard has. Has declined to. To serve him. He claims it's because of anti Semitism. The pierogi vendor claims it's because. Who is the pierogi vendor?
Alan Dershowitz
Who is Jewish, I believe.
Sam Stein
Yes, yes, they're Jewish. And said that it actually has to do with his defense of. Of Jeffrey, his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, and his defense of O.J. simpson.
Alan Dershowitz
Thank you. I appreciate that. Do you think before we get to the video. And we do need to get to the video. Do you think when Dershowitz is on the ferry heading out to, you know, Oaks Bluff, he's like, got a list going, like, places where he can have dramatic confrontations on the Vineyard, he's just like, you know what? I'm gonna go to the ice cream place and demand that they serve me, like, five scoops. And if they don't, I'm gonna accuse them of hating Jews. Do you think what's going on here?
Sam Stein
I. You know, it's. It is a really interesting way to spend your summer. Personally, I'm really here as the summer vacation expert. You know, I kind of feel.
Alan Dershowitz
Is this what you do on your vacation? You, like, look for confrontations and then you bring a camera around to film?
Sam Stein
It's the opposite, which is that vacation is really about long naps, leisurely walks, swims in the ocean or the pool. It's really not about confronting your local library or unless food vendors.
Alan Dershowitz
Unless your vacation usually involves a 3pm Pierogi break and. And you're denied it, in which case you're entitled to Velit. All right, well, enough of us. Let's play this confrontation of Alan Dershowitz going to what is the stand is called Good Pierogi. And the co owner. I want to be. I'm going to butcher the name, but it is what it is. Creme Meskovich. He is the co owner of Good Pierogi. It's they.
Sam Stein
Just to be clear, this was actually one of the things they.
Alan Dershowitz
Sorry. Yes, sorry. I apologies for that.
Sam Stein
It's actually at the center of this, this whole situation as well known as they.
Alan Dershowitz
I apolog. Apologies to Crumb for that. His pronoun is they and Dershowitz that up repeatedly.
Sam Stein
You and Alan both.
Alan Dershowitz
Yeah, and I don't deserve a pierogi. This is the confrontation. We're gonna play it and I'll, you know, pause it at certain points we can discuss with some commentary. Let's buy in an effort to try.
Krem Meskovich
To restore community and to ask you to sell me pierogi in the interest of keeping the island together. So we don't have one for anti Zionists and one for people who sell categories. So I'd ask you to please just sell me any one of your products to show that you're prepared to sell to anybody and not allow your anti Zionism to decide which people will love your.
Unnamed Pierogi Vendor
This man is calling me an anti Zionist.
Krem Meskovich
This. Excuse me. This man is a saint.
Alan Dershowitz
Okay, pause. Excuse me. This man is a saint.
Sam Stein
Okay, wait a second. So I was under the impression that he had been cancelled on Martha's Vineyard, that he had been ostracized. I didn't realize. Who's this person who's off screen who's defending, defending him?
Alan Dershowitz
He's probably like his, his brother. I, I thought the first of all, he comes in loaded for bear. He's got a book. He, he wants to, you know, use the pierogi as sort of a proxy for solving the Middle east strife. And poor Creme is just like, you know, I don't, I don't like this. I want to comment a little bit about the table and no offense to Creme, but there's just a lot of open containers on that table. I, if I were at the Progestan, I would like a little bit of a cleaner progress stand.
Sam Stein
Yeah, well, I mean, this really does seem, and I think it should be emphasized that this really is a pop up. Like truly. I mean, there's five reviews on Yelp. There's really not much on Instagram either. This is, this is really just a person who's making pierogies as a very, very small business on the island. This is not. You. Institutional, it seems. This is one person's pierogi business.
Alan Dershowitz
And, yeah, it's big enough for Dershowitz to make a big scene over. He's carrying a book and. And he's going to hand the book at some point. I don't think we've ever discovered what the book is.
Sam Stein
He. He said the name somewhere. I. I can't remember what it is.
Alan Dershowitz
I. I wish I unders. I wish I could read what's on his shirt. But I imagine it's, like, deliberately provocative too, and I do. I don't know about how you feel about the pen and the. The pocket holder.
Sam Stein
I like it. I think it's looking good. I like the overshirt. It's, you know, it's nice.
Alan Dershowitz
He's got a style. He's got a style.
Sam Stein
Yeah.
Alan Dershowitz
So we have this confrontation. We know it's not going to go well because already there's like 20 people with their cell phone cameras filming it, and that's not gonna.
Sam Stein
They knew he was coming. Yeah, he was coming.
Alan Dershowitz
This. This is. Let's just be honest. He's not. Alan is not looking for peace in the Middle east here. He's looking for. He's looking for a viral moment, obviously. And so I don't think he's going to get his pierogi, but let's just play on and see if he can sort this out.
Krem Meskovich
I also offer you this book, which.
Unnamed Pierogi Vendor
Thank you.
Alan Dershowitz
Thank you.
Unnamed Pierogi Vendor
Thank you so much.
Alan Dershowitz
The sign behind Jerusalem.
Unnamed Pierogi Vendor
I'm very surprised that you're here because of the things that you've been saying about us and the business.
Krem Meskovich
They're just. You.
Sam Stein
Yeah.
Unnamed Pierogi Vendor
Online.
Alan Dershowitz
Yeah.
Sam Stein
Well, good.
Unnamed Pierogi Vendor
Pierogies are business and kremisky, which is me. And I really do not appreciate what you've been sharing in the last week since. Is it true?
Alan Dershowitz
Of course.
Unnamed Pierogi Vendor
You have proved that I am an anti Semite.
Krem Meskovich
Yeah. You protested the Jewish culture festival last year, which had nothing to do with Israel or Zionism. It was just Jewish food, Jewish music, Jewish art, and you protested it. And the rabbi said that was an anti Semitic act. Do you disagree with that?
Unnamed Pierogi Vendor
I do disagree with that.
Alan Dershowitz
Pause. Do you disagree you're an antisemit? Yes, I think I would disagree with that. It's like, what kind of question is that? What?
Sam Stein
I thought they did pretty well under cross examination there.
Alan Dershowitz
Yeah. I was gonna say, if you were crime on this situation, like, how would you. I probably would have handled it about the same way. Like, you know, you're. You know, you're being set up. I mean, there's two options here, really. It's like, well, three, I suppose. One is just get right in his face. Be like, get the out of here. The other is to just not engage at all. And I've seen people do that where it's like, you know, whatever. And this. And then this is sort of the calm, hey, I don't need this. I will just add one other thing. This is the most Jewish confrontation of all time. Like, two Jews just being like, yeah, you shouldn't have protested your fellow Jews. And like, you know, this is like a classic Stein family text thread here. So I relate. Let's continue this video. Hopefully I don't miss gender crime one more time because I feel really bad about this.
Krem Meskovich
Okay. To protest Jewish cultural events and not be called an anti Semite.
Unnamed Pierogi Vendor
Thank you.
Sam Stein
So if there's anything I can do to help complete this transaction.
Alan Dershowitz
I like this guy.
Unnamed Pierogi Vendor
And you know about this, that my pronouns are they, them. And you continue to misjudge.
Alan Dershowitz
Yeah, you do is absolutely right. And I am worse than Dershowitz.
Krem Meskovich
People have slips of the time. You know, they, you are, them. I'm happy to use whatever pronouns you want. This is not about that. This is about you protesting a Jewish event. You did. Did you protest the Jewish event? You won't answer that question.
Alan Dershowitz
Do we know who the girl is? Are they.
Sam Stein
Yeah.
Alan Dershowitz
Or she or him.
Sam Stein
I think that they have some. They. They have some sort of relationship is what Instagram seems to suggest.
Krem Meskovich
The Jewish cultural festival.
Unnamed Pierogi Vendor
This is not a class examination.
Alan Dershowitz
I love it. That's a good one.
Sam Stein
They had that one ready, I gotta say.
Alan Dershowitz
Yeah, I think I should put this down.
Sam Stein
One.
Unnamed Pierogi Vendor
Yeah.
Alan Dershowitz
She knew towards this. Hey, don't call us bigots. Don't call us. A little test.
Krem Meskovich
My parent, my grandparents died.
Alan Dershowitz
The Holocaust. Yeah. Don't you call me an anti Semite.
Unnamed Pierogi Vendor
With banners that said, all liberation is inextricably linked. My Jewish culture is a history of resistance against genocide.
Alan Dershowitz
We are not anti Semites. All right, we can pause it there. I don't think we need to play the rest of it. It goes on and on and on. Ultimately, Dershowitz does not get the pierogi.
Sam Stein
No, no. They shout him down and he leaves.
Alan Dershowitz
And I think in the. In. In the end, I think they Krem does pretty well for himself, honestly. Ends up in a good spot.
Sam Stein
Yeah, I think. You know, it's interesting. Most people have actually seemingly backed down the Martha's Vineyard community in the past seems seemingly has kind of caved to some of the, the whims of Dershowitz. Dershowitz has outlasted them in many instances. In this, the library instance in the past that we referenced in which Alan was supposedly not disinvited from speaking at the library, but just not invited to what was described as his annual, what he thought was his annual discussion, which was what he had claimed was usually the most popular event. Speaking event that the Chilmark Library had all year. And he was not invited to that. Eventually he was invited back the year after all of this. So, you know, he just has a tendency to outlast some of these people. Apparently. Also on Martha's Vineyard a few years ago, he got into an altercation with Larry David.
Alan Dershowitz
Yes, that was great.
Sam Stein
Yes, absolutely. Larry David said that he was shame. That his behavior was shameful. I think his defense of, of Donald Trump in the Russia investigation and the Annie impeachment trial and his comments about January 6th, I think.
Alan Dershowitz
I don't know if it was then I want to just read. So the boston globe or boston.com I think it's. The Globe is all over this, naturally, because it's the best story in their backyard. They, they, they interviewed or they got creme a statement from creme about this. What Krem said is, quote, I have no desire to argue about the legal system in the US or one's right to a fair trial, but I personally know too many sexual abuse survivors. Mr. Dershow consciously decided to befriend and defend men who have accused, who have been accused of abusing and harming women. Creme added in our minds and hearts, selling to Alan Dershowitz. Dershowitz was the equivalent to supporting his decisions and statements. So, yeah, the general consensus is that he's fine to do this from a legal perspective.
Sam Stein
Yeah. And, you know, I actually have a response. I have some original reporting to bring to this is why led with this. I have some original reporting. I'm actually advancing the story here in a very meaningful way.
Alan Dershowitz
Okay.
Sam Stein
I, I texted Alan Dershowitz to ask him, you know, about, about this, in this incident. I texted him last night around 11:30pm you know, in preparation for this. I wanted to make sure we, we, we got this. And you know, I texted asking, I texted asking if he had any, you know, comment on this, on this situation and whether or not he would be taking any sort of legal action against the farmer's market or.
Alan Dershowitz
Max, read the fucking statement.
Sam Stein
I'm just letting people, I'm just let and he said, he said, and I quote, not if the farmers market makes a rule requiring all sellers to sell to everyone. So it kind of seems like there might be, you know, some sort of legal action that he might be taking because I don't think that the farmer's market is going to require anything. I then asked a follow up question, you know, asking if he plans on returning to the farmer's market, which is every Wednesday and Saturday, if he plans on being there.
Alan Dershowitz
What do they say?
Sam Stein
Not I've not received a response to that yet, but I absolutely will let let my followers know on social media and I will of course let the Bulwarks followers know as well as I become updated on this.
Alan Dershowitz
This is. Yeah, Creme says he's never denied service to anyone except this one instance with Alan Dershowitz. So we'll see. I don't know if that affects things legally. Let me just say the Yelp reviews, as you noted, not many, but it is rated the best Polish place near West Tisbury, Massachusetts. I'm not sure how big the Polish cuisine scene is there, but there's a few other places I will say, but it gets five star reviews but only four of them. I will just say one of them was effusive where it said I'm going to read a little bit of it because you know, I got to be amazing pierogies. It says between manufacturing program doing pop ups I found, I found joy in private cooking. That's him saying his own thing. They have great customer service and even better programs at this righteous pierogi vendor. So maybe they're going to get some more reviews after the Dershowitz confrontation.
Sam Stein
It does really seem, it does really seem like this has been good for business in some ways. I mean obviously they had a big crowd of people around and presumably a few of those people might want to buy some pierogies. But you know, you said something earlier about how Boston.com has been all over this story. This has been a national news story. You know, one thing that I want to one party that I will say is definitely happy about this confrontation is the Martha's Vineyard Times, which I think every summer has a different Alan Dershowitz multi day long story to follow.
Alan Dershowitz
Do they have a Dershowitz correspondent on the paper or no?
Sam Stein
I'm not really sure. But they definitely, they have been all over this story just like they were all over his the Chilmark Library story, though they didn't actually break a lot of the details on that. A lot of those details were broken by Isaac Chotiner in the New Yorker, in which. In an interview in which Alan Dershowitz said that not only was he canceled from the library, but he had also been canceled from. Let me look here. He had been canceled from the Martha's. From the Martha's Vineyard Hebrew center. And apparently he was also not welcome at the Martha's Vineyard Community Center. And he also apparently was not invited to a friend's concert in which he had been invited to sit in the front row for many years before, but he was not invited in 2020.
Alan Dershowitz
Why does he keep going to the Vineyard? Just find another place.
Sam Stein
I mean, somewhere else.
Alan Dershowitz
You'll be fine.
Sam Stein
It's the same reason he's going to the pierogi stand after he's already been refused. And he goes.
Alan Dershowitz
He lives for the drum.
Sam Stein
Yeah.
Alan Dershowitz
Well, Max, thank you so much for this. I know this was not something you wanted to do. In fact, begged me on multiple occasions to get out of it.
Sam Stein
You know, I'm easily convinced. And, you know, I will say one thing to Alan Dershowitz's credit is every time I've reached out to him for comment on various stories, and he really does pop up quite a bit in the media world. He's a pretty. He's been a ubiquitous media figure and an easy to reach media figure for a very long time. And, you know, he. I texted him and he responded fairly promptly with his veiled threat against the Martha's Vineyard West. I just gotta be honest, Mark. Farmers market.
Alan Dershowitz
I gotta be honest. A guy with those resources, that ability to draw media attention, these connections, I feel like he could have bigger targets than good pierogi. Like.
Sam Stein
No, it's defensive OJ Defense of the president and proactive legal measures against the Martha's Vineyard two day a week farmer's market.
Alan Dershowitz
So ridiculous, this whole thing. If Krem's out there watching this, I do actually sincerely want to apologize for misgendering. They. I really, you know, that was an actual slip of the tongue. I don't. I don't want to know. I don't know if Dershowitz was doing the same thing, but I was, unfortunately, had a slip of the tongue there. So I do apologize for that. Other than that, I appreciate this, Max. Thanks so much, man. You're the best. Thanks. Have fun in the vineyard. Have fun in the vineyard next week when you're at your estate and see if you can go get a program.
Sam Stein
I'll have to go and get some pierogies. Yeah.
Alan Dershowitz
Appreciate it. All right. Thanks for watching everyone subscribe to the feed. Get great content like this. Talk to you.
Title: Alan Dershowitz Melts Down Over...Pierogies? (w/ Max Tani)
Release Date: August 9, 2025
Host/Author: The Bulwark
Description: Bulwark Takes delivers concise insights on daily news from The Bulwark team, including Tim Miller, Sarah Longwell, Bill Kristol, and more.
In this episode of Bulwark Takes, host Sam Stein engages in a lively discussion with Alan Dershowitz and Max Tani about a recent public confrontation involving Dershowitz at a local pierogi stand in Martha's Vineyard. The episode delves into the specifics of the incident, the broader context of Dershowitz's contentious interactions within the community, and the ensuing media attention.
The conversation opens with a seemingly light-hearted discussion about the perfect snack, where Max Tani emphasizes the importance of convenience and craving satisfaction. This segues into a playful promotion of AM PM, highlighting the idea of "cravenience"—a blend of craving and convenience (00:00 - 00:21).
Key Quote:
Max Tani (00:19): "What more could you want? Stop by AM PM where the snacks and drinks are perfectly craveable and convenient. That's cravenience. AM PM Too much. Good stuff."
Sam Stein introduces the central issue: Alan Dershowitz's ongoing confrontations at Martha's Vineyard, notably his recent altercation with a pierogi vendor. This isn't an isolated incident; Dershowitz has a history of disputes within the community, including conflicts with local libraries and previous altercations with public figures like Larry David.
Key Quote:
Sam Stein (02:26): "This is about Alan Dershowitz and his maniacal need to create scenes on Martha's Vineyard every summer. There's always some drama with that guy."
The heart of the episode features a detailed playback and analysis of the confrontation between Alan Dershowitz and Krem Meskovich, the co-owner of Good Pierogi.
Key Exchange:
Krem Meskovich (04:42): "To restore community and to ask you to sell me pierogi in the interest of keeping the island together. So we don't have one for anti Zionists and one for people who sell categories. So I'd ask you to please just sell me any one of your products to show that you're prepared to sell to anybody and not allow your anti Zionism to decide which people will love your."
Unnamed Pierogi Vendor (05:33): "This man is calling me an anti Zionist."
Krem Meskovich (08:01): "They protested the Jewish culture festival last year, which had nothing to do with Israel or Zionism. It was just Jewish food, Jewish music, Jewish art, and you protested it. And the rabbi said that was an anti Semitic act. Do you disagree with that?"
Unnamed Pierogi Vendor (08:03): "Pierogies are business and kremisky, which is me. And I really do not appreciate what you've been sharing in the last week since."
Analysis: Dershowitz accuses the vendor of anti-Semitism due to past protests against Jewish cultural events, while the vendor refutes these claims, highlighting a misunderstanding or misrepresentation of his actions.
Sam Stein and Alan Dershowitz dissect the interaction, questioning the motives behind Dershowitz's actions. They speculate whether Dershowitz is seeking media attention or genuinely addressing grievances.
Key Insights:
The episode highlights how the confrontation has attracted significant media attention, including coverage by Boston.com and the Martha's Vineyard Times. Despite the negative exchange, the pierogi stand may benefit from increased public interest and patronage.
Key Quote:
Alan Dershowitz (15:54): "We have the Martha's Vineyard Times, which I think every summer has a different Alan Dershowitz multi day long story to follow."
Sam Stein discusses his efforts to obtain a statement from Dershowitz, revealing Dershowitz's vague response regarding potential legal actions against the farmer's market for refusing service. Stein emphasizes the ongoing nature of the story and promises to keep listeners updated.
Key Quote:
Sam Stein (13:45): "I texted Alan Dershowitz to ask him, you know, about, about this, in this incident. I texted him last night around 11:30pm you know, in preparation for this."
The episode wraps up with reflections on Dershowitz's persistent conflicts within Martha's Vineyard, his ability to draw media attention, and the broader implications for community cohesion. Despite multiple confrontations, Dershowitz continues to seek the spotlight, often leaving local businesses and community members to navigate the fallout.
Final Thoughts:
Max Tani (00:19): "What more could you want? Stop by AM PM where the snacks and drinks are perfectly craveable and convenient. That's cravenience. AM PM Too much. Good stuff."
Sam Stein (02:26): "This is about Alan Dershowitz and his maniacal need to create scenes on Martha's Vineyard every summer."
Krem Meskovich (04:42): "To restore community and to ask you to sell me pierogi in the interest of keeping the island together."
Unnamed Pierogi Vendor (05:33): "This man is calling me an anti Zionist."
Sam Stein (13:45): "I texted Alan Dershowitz to ask him...he said, and I quote, not if the farmers market makes a rule requiring all sellers to sell to everyone."
Alan Dershowitz (15:54): "I gotta be honest. A guy with those resources, that ability to draw media attention..."
This episode of Bulwark Takes provides an in-depth look into the tumultuous relationship between Alan Dershowitz and the Martha's Vineyard community, using the pierogi confrontation as a focal point. Through candid discussions, analysis, and firsthand reporting, Sam Stein and Alan Dershowitz navigate the complexities of public disputes, media influence, and community dynamics.