RFK Jr. Destroyed in Hearings and Dems Go On Attacks As Trump Crumbles

Summary

IHIP News – Episode Summary

Episode Title: RFK Jr. Destroyed in Hearings and Dems Go On Attacks As Trump Crumbles
Hosts: Jennifer Welch & Angie “Pumps” Sullivan
Guest: Jack Schlossberg (Democratic candidate for NY-12)
Date: April 19, 2026

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Episode Overview

In this lively, comedic, and sharply political installment of IHIP News, hosts Jennifer Welch and Angie "Pumps" Sullivan sit down with Jack Schlossberg, Democratic candidate for New York’s 12th congressional district. The conversation ranges from RFK Jr.’s bizarre history and ongoing harm to public health, to Trump’s record, Democratic Party accountability, the role of super PACs, American foreign policy (especially in Iran and Israel), and the urgent need for real progressive reform. Schlossberg positions himself as a grassroots candidate rejecting corporate money and details his campaign’s people-first solutions for New York City.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

The Case Against RFK Jr. and Trump

• RFK Jr.’s Eccentric and Dangerous Behavior (01:13 - 03:21)

  • Hosts reference RFK Jr. as both Jack’s relative and a public health threat, recounting tales of animal mutilation and odd obsessions with dead bodies ("He killed a bear and buried in Central Park." – Podcast Host, 02:09).
  • Jack laments that these stories, while comical, distract from real harm, noting:

    "Measles cases are higher than they've been in 40 years. All I have seen from him is cutting all of the funding for programs that provide public health... anti vax crusade." (Jack Schlossberg, 02:15).

  • Critique of RFK Jr. and the administration for lying under oath and acting without fear of repercussions.
  • Jack relates his congressional run directly to the need for accountability:

    "I'm running for Congress because I want to make sure that the Democratic Party wins back the House...so we can subpoena people and find out why did RFK Jr say pick Tylenol and not Advil? Was he paid to do that?" (Jack Schlossberg, 03:22)

• On Trump’s Presidency and Corruption (03:44 - 04:28)

  • Jack criticizes the distraction Trump’s corruption creates, arguing:

    "Every day that we're distracted by the president's crimes and corruptions is one day that we don't get to solve the problems that we need to solve." (Jack Schlossberg, 03:44)

  • Highlights the urgency of investigations into profiting in office ("president can make $4 billion in his first year in office, no questions, no repercussions... that's acceptable now." – Jack Schlossberg, 04:04).

Foreign Policy: Iran and Israel

• Opposition to War in Iran (04:28 - 06:21)

  • Jack: "I have opposed the war in Iran, Trump's war in Iran, since day one. Not just on procedural grounds...but on strategic and moral grounds." (Jack Schlossberg, 04:36)
  • Critiques U.S. interventionism: "We're spending millions of dollars a day shooting down $50,000 drones with $2 million missiles. And meanwhile, there's a lot of problems we need to solve here." (Jack Schlossberg, 04:36)
  • The hosts challenge U.S. double standards and arrogance, with Jennifer arguing:

    "We went over and Double tapstruck Schoolgirls, right? And then we're like, oh, they're terrorists. And it's like this language around these very defining things." (Podcast Host, 05:31)

• On the Israel-Gaza/Lebanon Wars and U.S. Aid (15:48 - 24:26)

  • Discussion of a recent Senate vote to send more military aid to Israel; Jack says he would oppose funding operations in these wars but would support defensive support like the Iron Dome.
  • Direct confrontation between Jennifer and Jack on whether the US should fund Israel at all, with Jennifer pressing for moral clarity given evidence of civilian deaths:

    "This man is a homicidal, genocidal war criminal...even Israeli human rights groups [say so]." (Podcast Host, 17:21)

  • Jack’s nuanced reply:

    "Netanyahu has committed atrocities...it's not making Israelis safer, in my opinion, or American Jews safer... I don't think that a full scale abandonment in terms of all of the defensive capabilities that we help Israel with...is actually going to resolve the situation or lead to anything better..." (Jack Schlossberg, 19:53, 21:54)

  • He insists Congress must reclaim authority over war declarations and military support.

Democratic Party Reform and Money in Politics

• Rejecting Corporate Money and Super PACs (07:39 - 12:12)

  • Jack passionately disavows big donor and corporate money:

    "Our last chance to stop Trump is not going to come again... and I have made a centerpiece of my campaign and at huge risk, is I don't take money from billionaire super PACs, I don't take money from big AI companies, and I don't take money from corporate PACs." (Jack Schlossberg, 08:25)

  • Critiques fellow Democrats for falling into a cycle of dependency on big donors, referencing Schumer, Hakeem Jeffries, and their links to big tech and pro-Israel groups funding both sides.
  • Jennifer's biting take:

    "How are we an opposition party if our leaders...take money from the people that fund fascism? Like, it really feels like...fascist collaboration." (Podcast Host, 10:25)

  • Jack positions his campaign as “old school politics”:

    "Meeting people where they are, having conversations with them being accessible. We've released our. Our campaign has released real policies that try to help the people who live in this district." (Jack Schlossberg, 12:12)

• Jack’s Policy Proposals for NY-12 (12:11 - 13:43)

  • “Renters’ Deduction”: Allowing rent to be deducted from taxes. "Mortgage interest payments, fully tax deductible. Let's add rent to the list." (Jack Schlossberg, 12:44)
  • Legislation to make Trump pay for the permanent police security at Trump Tower, which currently costs NYC $1 million a day ("He has made $4 billion since he got elected... He should pay for it. What can we do with that money? Free buses. Pay our teachers more." – Jack Schlossberg, 13:26)
  • Support for the current mayor but stresses need for an energetic federal partner.

Rapid-Fire Political Positions

• On Hot-Button Progressive Issues (14:18 - 16:15)

  • Reject corporate PAC money: “Oh, my God. Yes. Yes. Yes.” (Jack Schlossberg, 14:27)
  • Abolish ICE: “100%.” (Jack Schlossberg, 14:31)
  • Tax on billionaires: "We need to raise taxes on the ultra wealthy, just as we do have to be smart." (Jack Schlossberg, 14:36)
  • Emphasizes family history of civic-minded, wealthy leaders (15:02).

• Voting in Congress (24:26 - 24:49)

  • Would vote for Hakeem Jeffries as Speaker “if election were today.” (Jack Schlossberg, 24:41)
  • Would join the Progressive Caucus (Jack Schlossberg, 24:49).

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• "If we can't beat these guys, then we deserve to lose." – Jack Schlossberg, on Democratic Party failures (11:37)
• "Super PACs are super bad. And you can't trust somebody who's got a super PAC funded by a billionaire. If you do, you're throwing away your vote because you can't trust them to advocate for you." – Jack Schlossberg, (25:01)
• Hosts’ and guest’s shared frustration with both parties: “We end up in wars, we end up with a bigger deficit. And then the Democrat comes in and cleans it up.” (Podcast Host, 07:16)
• Direct, heated debate about US complicity in war crimes and Democratic complicity in perpetuating them (17:21-22:59).
• Humanizing touch: Jack referencing his two grandfathers, one a president and one “president of his temple uptown.” (Jack Schlossberg, 19:55)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• RFK Jr. & public health: 01:13 – 03:21
• Accountability, Trump corruption: 03:44 – 04:28
• War in Iran and US foreign policy: 04:28 – 07:06
• Democratic Party’s internal problems, super PACs: 07:39 – 12:12
• Local NY-12 policy (renters’ deduction, Trump Tower costs): 12:11 – 13:43
• Rapid-fire issues (PACs, ICE, billionaire taxes): 14:18 – 16:15
• Israel, Gaza, Lebanon, US aid debate: 15:48 – 24:26
• Progressive Caucus, Speaker vote: 24:26 – 24:49
• Closing campaign plug: 25:01 – 25:44

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Additional Information

To learn more or get involved with Jack Schlossberg’s campaign:

• Instagram: @JackUno
• Website: jackfornewyork.com
• Signature campaign priorities include renters’ deduction, repealing food tariffs, fast-track funding for worship security, health care expansion, and staunch opposition to super PACs.

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Tone & Style:
The episode is direct, irreverent, and passionate—balancing laughter with substance and earnest debate. Jennifer and Jack push for honesty and moral clarity, frequently calling out hypocrisy on both sides of the aisle, and relentlessly centering the conversation on tangible reforms, not just partisan sound bites.

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This summary captures the heart of the conversation, providing a clear guide for anyone interested in fierce Democratic politics and the urgent need for grassroots reform in 2026.

Transcript

[Kiana]

I'm Kiana, and I leveled up my business with Shopify. Once I figured out that Shopify was a thing, I never turned back. I can create a site with my eyes closed. Shopify thinks ahead of us, you know, and it thinks about the customer more than anything. Every day I'm thinking about some other new business, but Shopify is doing it to me because it's so easy to use. It's like I can't stop. I'm addicted. Start your free [e-mail].

[Jack Schlossberg]

All right.

[Podcast Host]

Joining me today on IHIP News is Jack Schlossberg. He is a Democratic candidate for Congress in New York's 12th congressional district. FYI, yours truly lives in the 12th congressional district, so he has to not only earn your vote, but mine as well. This episode, Jack has built a grassroots campaign that does not take corporate, corporate special interest, or super PAC dollars. Jack, how are you today?

[Jack Schlossberg]

I am so great. It's so great to be with you. Thank you for having me. I feel like I'm inside of my own Instagram right now watching or being inside of your show and seeing your clips all the time. So congratulations on all you have built, and thank you for having me.

[Podcast Host]

Oh, thank you. Okay, before we get to your campaign, I have to do a little gossiping first. Okay. So pop this up. Kylie RFK Jr. I believe is a relative of yours, once chopped off a dead raccoon's penis to study later while on a family road trip.

[Jack Schlossberg]

That sounds about right, unfortunately. But I'm. I'm interested in what study the word study here means. I can only imagine. Although I would not like to imagine. But, yeah, he's really a threat. You know, it's. It's comical. Some of the stuff that. Stories about him and his. He has kind of an obsession with. With, I think, dead animal bodies in general. There's a long history of this.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah.

[Jack Schlossberg]

So, like, it sounds funny and silly, but it's. It's deeply weird, especially for the person who's in charge of public health, I think. You know, he killed a bear and buried in Central Park.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah. He, like, staged a homicide, didn't he? Bear homicide, yeah.

[Jack Schlossberg]

That's really. I mean, that's weird.

[Kiana]

Think about.

[Jack Schlossberg]

Think about that. If you Live in New York, 12, grew up here, you're burying anything in Central park, let alone a bear carcass. That's insane. But, yeah, this is just. I think it is a distraction in some ways from the serious problems that he is causing people's actual daily lives and their health. You know, measles cases are higher than they've been in 40 years. All I have seen from him is cutting all of the funding for programs that provide public health. Public health infrastructure around this country, firing the scientists who work at the cdc. Anti vax crusade. And only thing I've really seen him do is create a food pyramid that doesn't make that much sense. And. And I guess play with dead animal parts.

[Podcast Host]

So I video with Kid Rock.

[Jack Schlossberg]

Yeah, absolutely. And I think also it speaks to how unserious this administration is and how when they do go to Capitol Hill and they are forced to testify like RFK Jr. Has done, they go up there and lie and they don't care because they don't think there's any repercussions. And I'm running for Congress because I want to make sure that the Democratic Party wins back the House. So that we have control of Judiciary Committee.

[Podcast Host]

Yes.

[Jack Schlossberg]

That we can subpoena people and find out why did RFK Jr say pick Tylenol and not Advil? Was he paid to do that? What's going on here? What is going on with the misinformation we're getting from our government?

[Podcast Host]

So this is an important part for you, the atonement of all of this corruption that we're seeing. The Democratic Party getting power again and total accountability. This is a big part of your campaign.

[Jack Schlossberg]

100%. Look, I wish we didn't have to deal with cleaning up this mess. I wish we could just get focused on the problems that we have to solve, like building new housing in New York. 12. Like making public transportation better in this city, making wealth inequality a thing of the past in this country. We have a lot of work to do as Americans. And every day that we're distracted by the president's crimes and corruptions is one day that we don't get to solve the problems that we need to solve. But we cannot let all of this go unanswered. If we let it go unanswered, if it's. If it's allowed that the president can make $4 billion in his first year in office, no questions, no repercussions, no investigation, and no crime being charged, that's. Then, that's. Apparently, that's acceptable now. And we can't. We can only blame ourselves if we don't hold them accountable.

[Podcast Host]

If you were in Congress right now and there was a bill on the floor to vote to support the. And fund the Iranian war, how would you vote?

[Jack Schlossberg]

I have. I have opposed the war in Iran, Trump's war in Iran, since day one. Not just on procedural grounds, because he didn't go to Congress to seek authorization, but on strategic and moral grounds. I don't think. You know, I have no sympathy for the Iranian government, and I don't deny that they're a state sponsor of terrorism and they're not our friend. But going to war without a plan, Bad idea. It has done nothing to increase American national security. To me, it looks like we just lost a war with Iran that we started. We're now negotiating with them to try to get back things that we had before Trump started the war. It's out of control. We're spending millions of dollars a day shooting down $50,000 drones with $2 million missiles. And meanwhile, there's a lot of problems we need to solve here. So. Yeah, and I. And, you know, for the viewers watching, I am the only candidate running in this race who opposed the war since day one. Not just on procedural grounds, but saying it's a bad idea.

[Podcast Host]

Don't you think? In this accountability for everything. With RFK Jr. With Trump and the COR. Corruption with his sons and Howard Lutnick, we can just go on and on. This really bothers me. You know, we say that Iran is a, you know, state sponsor of terrorism, but also I think it's important that we look at our arrogance, American arrogance and hubris. We went over and Double tapstruck Schoolgirls, right? And then we're like, oh, they're terrorists. And it's like this language around these very defining things. And I'm not saying they are or aren't, but look at the way we behave on the national stage. It's really unbecoming, a superpower, if you will. It's really unbecoming what a civilized country that wants to promote democracy worldwide. Wouldn't you agree?

[Jack Schlossberg]

I couldn't agree more. This is our country's 250th birthday as a. As a nation. And I think it's coming at a crossroads and at a moment in history for a reason. We have to figure out now and decide whether we are the country that we say we are and lead the world by example and are. You know, there were no democracies on earth when the American Revolution was going on. We were the first. And we should be proud of that history and understand that with being the world's superpower, largest economy, biggest military, comes a responsibility to set an example. Not only that, all of the things they're doing, even if setting an example weren't important, which I obviously believe it is, they're not helping us. They're just wasting money on an. A strategic mission with no plan because they feel like playing with the military toys is how I see it.

[Podcast Host]

Don't you think? Republican policies, they always end up to neo con. It just seems like every time a Republican gets in power, yeah, they try to resist.

[Jack Schlossberg]

They try to resist it, but they

[Podcast Host]

just, they can't help themselves. And here we are. They lie and say that wealth trickles down. That's a total lie. They've been telling Americans that forever. That doesn't happen. We end up in wars, we end up with a bigger deficit. And then the Democrat comes in and cleans it up. And then the Republicans do an incredible job propagandizing their lies. It's really incredible how good they are at lying.

[Jack Schlossberg]

Oh, my God. Well, that's. In all honesty, that is why what you're doing is so important and something that I truly believe in, which is we don't have. We shouldn't be throwing out propaganda as they do. But we can't cede control of the airwaves. The Internet waves to the other side to let them flood it with misinformation. We have to get our own perspective out there in creative ways and speak to people in their own languages and try to relate to them and make sense of what's going on so people are informed. And I will say, while we're on this topic of corruption and kind of seeing the president say one thing, no foreign wars as a candidate, and now what is he doing? I'm a Democrat and I'm very, very proud of that history because of what I know it is. It's fighting for organized labor, for civil rights, for health care for everybody, for immigration reform, for setting example for the rest of the world. But our party also has a problem, and our party needs to change its ways fast. Because our last chance to stop Trump is not going to come again. This is it, this year. And a huge part of that, in my opinion and something that I have made a centerpiece of my campaign and at at huge risk, is I don't take money from billionaire super PACs, I don't take money from big AI companies, and I don't take money from corporate packs. Not because I think I'm. That's a better moral stance to take. It happens to be. But also because we end up running campaigns like we did in 2024 and before, where we're sucking up to mega donors, we're sucking up to mega donors, and we have no idea what people care about. In their daily lives because their voices can't be heard because they're being drowned out by big donors who are writing fat checks. And I'm not taking that money because it forces us to do things like have pizza parties that are open to the public, make myself available through friend raisers going out on the street and people around the district trying to organize the energy of the constituents who live here and listen to them, because that's what a representative should do. And the people I'm running against are incredible examples of the way the Democratic Party should not be operating right now. Having a super PAC funded by a billionaire plastering your name all over television ads. Another one who has a super PAC funded by anthropic AI company, the people who ran that. And to me, it's out of control. Our party is not going to win unless we do the hard thing of being creative and figuring out how do we get close to people. And that's what I'm trying to do with our campaign. Our average donation is under $40. We have support from 65,000 people across the country. And anyway, this is the I've had it podcast. I've had it with these mega donors and this strategy where it's just like, well, yeah, I'm for the people and Trump sucks and he's really corrupt, but I'm still gonna take $10 million in a super PAC. I'm a billionaire.

[Podcast Host]

Do you think that the impression that they're like the controlled opposition? Yeah, because what pisses me off, Jack, is like. And I'm a Democrat too, but I feel extra betrayed when I find out that. Chuckles. That's what I call Chuck Schumer and Hakeem. They take money from big tech like Palantir, which is behind a lot of the erosion of civil liberties with ice, and they take money from aipac. And these are the biggest funders of maga. So I'm like, how are we an opposition party if our leaders, minority leaders, take money from the people that fund fascism? Like, it really feels like there is a component in leadership of our party right now of fascist collaboration. And it's devastating for me to come to that realization. But to your point, there's something, when you start taking a lot of money like that, it seems to break a person. It breaks them. They compromise, they break, and they break more. And then we have this political party that should be for the people, that should be the opposition party, and instead we have an approval rating like that of Magas, despite running against these effing morons. I know these morons.

[Jack Schlossberg]

I know if we can't beat these guys, then we deserve to lose.

[Podcast Host]

Totally.

[Jack Schlossberg]

I mean, I will say this. I think that why I'm so energized and excited about our campaign and why I want to run and win is because there are problems with our party. But the way to solve them is by getting people in Washington who can help out, you know, and so that's why I think our campaign can do that, because we will be heard loud and clear in Washington and we can support the party because not everyone in the party can play the same role. And I want to play a role in the party that can help us lead nationally so I can deliver for the district.

[Podcast Host]

And.

[Jack Schlossberg]

And the only way to do that really, is old school politics. Meeting people where they are, having conversations with them being accessible. We've released our. Our campaign has released real policies that try to help the people who live in this district. Not because I'm some genius, but because I'm going and meeting people and hearing what they have to say. So one that is our most popular among renters in this city is our renters deduction. Deduct your rent from your taxes. It's a creative solution. I'm the first person to propose it. Mortgage interest payments, fully tax deductible. Let's add rent to the list.

[Podcast Host]

That's so smart.

[Jack Schlossberg]

Thank you very much. You might like this one, too.

[Podcast Host]

Okay, let's hear it.

[Jack Schlossberg]

Okay, so if New York 12, the district runs from 96 at 14th Street. In the middle of it is Trump Tower, 59th.

[Podcast Host]

Okay.

[Jack Schlossberg]

Or maybe 57th. 59th. Everyone knows where it is. You can't miss it. It's a huge, big, beautiful, gold, black building, Trump Tower. And it has a permanent perimeter around it. And if you've been in the city since he won in 2017, there's a permanent police blockade. The streets shut down. It cost New York City a million dollars a day, $300 million a year. I have put forward last week legislation that I would introduce that would say President Trump has to pay for it. He has made $4 billion since he got elected.

[Podcast Host]

It's now 6.4 billion, according to Forbes. Just since the last time you checked. That was probably a couple weeks ago. We've already put together 1.4 billion.

[Jack Schlossberg]

Billion.

[Podcast Host]

It's grotesque. Billion. Agree that MFer should pay for that.

[Jack Schlossberg]

He should pay for it. What can we do with that? With that money? Free buses. Pay our teachers more.

[Podcast Host]

What do you think of Zoron, the mayor?

[Jack Schlossberg]

I am wishing the mayor the most success. I'm very impressed with the organization that he has built, how much he is getting done. I am optimistic about the future of the city. Do we agree on every single issue? Not sure yet. But I'm running for Congress because I think we need to have a local city elected official who is energizing for the people doing everything they can to move the levers of government to help people who live in New York and a federal partner in Congress who can do the same thing.

[Podcast Host]

Okay, let me ask you some rapid fire questions. Okay, Rapid fire questions. Reject corporate PAC money. Yes or no?

[Jack Schlossberg]

Oh, my God. Yes. Yes. Yes.

[Podcast Host]

Okay. Abolish ICE. Yes or no?

[Jack Schlossberg]

100%.

[Podcast Host]

I like it. What's the minimum tax rate a billionaire should pay?

[Jack Schlossberg]

I think that there are about a million different tax loopholes that we have to close and that we need to raise taxes on the ultra wealthy, just as we do have to be smart.

[Podcast Host]

Historically, you come from a wealthy family. Like I think it's your great grandfather Joe Kennedy was rich af. I mean, would be a modern day billionaire. But he was a very patriotic person in the sense that he put human beings over his own personal wealth.

[Jack Schlossberg]

Absolutely.

[Podcast Host]

And valued civil rights and universal human rights and paying his fair share of taxes. And this is the family that you come from.

[Jack Schlossberg]

Correct. He was like a genius investor. He was a whiz, and he was a really charismatic, dynamic leader. But he also served. He believed in public service deeply. And he was, he's ambassador to the Court of St. James. He was also the first head of the SEC. So that's security Exchange Commission. So he, at the time, he saw his responsibility as someone who understood how the banking industry and finance was working to try to actually do something to make sure the rules were more fair rather than to favor himself.

[Podcast Host]

Right. And back then, I think the tax rate was just as people don't realize,

[Jack Schlossberg]

in the 60s when JFK was president, the income tax rate was like 70%.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah. Okay. So a couple of days ago, there was a vote to send more military aid to Israel. And remarkably, 40 senators voted not to do this. Seven Democrats, including Chuckles from the State of New York and Senator Gillibrand, voted against what? Our base does not want this anymore. The Democratic Party does not want to fund this anymore. How would you have voted?

[Jack Schlossberg]

Yeah, as I said, I've opposed this war since day one. And Trump and Netanyahu are obstacles to peace. And opposing this war means opposing funding for this war, all funding for this war. So in that bill in particular, I would have voted with the 40 senators who broke with party leadership there and voted. I can't remember yet. Is. I can't remember if I'm voting against it, am I voting to stop it, or if I.

[Podcast Host]

But you're against more aid? Offensive or defensive?

[Jack Schlossberg]

No. I do draw a distinction there. And I do think that the US should continue. I would continue funding the Iron Dome in Israel.

[Podcast Host]

You would?

[Jack Schlossberg]

I would. You know, first of all, does it

[Podcast Host]

bother you that I would?

[Jack Schlossberg]

The US And Israel, I hope for a better relationship in the future, and I think that we can get there. They are our historic ally. I'm not trying to understate the atrocities, the loss of life, and the fact that the situation there is terrible, but I do think that the US shouldn't fully abandon its ally and should continue funding the Iron Dome.

[Podcast Host]

I kind of think we should, and here's why. Benjamin Netanyahu is a war criminal and a liar. And right now he has displaced 1 million Lebanese people. He is carpet bombing civilian neighborhoods. And Israel will say, because they lie. Because he is a liar. Just like Donald Trump is a liar and he uses war propaganda. And he will say, oh, it was defensive. Hezbollah was coming after us, and this man is not reliable. So where I come from, Oklahoma City, you have all these rural places and suburban places, and these people don't have health care, they're poor. They live in a MAGA super majority state. All their money is getting shipped over. So Benjamin Netanyahu and their fucking tax dollars can carpet bomb kids. And I just feel like, Jack, I want you to think about that, because I feel like if we are the party of universal human rights and we are the party of moral clarity, that is it enabling and wishful thinking to say, oh, well, they're our ally and Benjamin Netanyahu's bad, but we'll return to goodness later. Or is it a. Is it. Does it take more moral courage to say, this is really damaging to people, this is really damaging, and we shouldn't fund this now. Trump is still going to fund it, but I think it's worthy of a deeper conversation, because I think in our party and in our corporate media spaces, there is like, here are the talking points about this and people kind of tiptoe around it because nobody wants to be accused of being a bigot. Nobody wants to be accused of being an anti Semite. And we have to have real conversations about that. And I think that the best way to support and oppose all forms of bigotry is the truth. Like, the truth will set you free. And the truth is this man is a homicidal, genocidal war criminal. Objectively, even Israeli human rights groups. So I feel like the base is moving towards complete non funding of this stuff because this guy has proven to us and kill people every chance he can get. So what do you think about that as having deeper, more realistic conversations?

[Jack Schlossberg]

I do think that Netanyahu and Trump, while they're in power, the US Israeli relationship is in a bad place and that Netanyahu has committed atrocities.

[Podcast Host]

Do you think they're war crimes?

[Jack Schlossberg]

I would let a court determine that, but I don't. I. What I think is he is a murder, it's a murderous regime, and it's not making Israelis safer, in my opinion, or American Jews safer. And I take very seriously, you know, the district I'm running in is the most Jewish district in my country, 20% right. You know, I have two grandfathers. One was president of the U.S. the other was president of his temple uptown. And so I take the concerns of people here, anti Semitism on the rise and the importance of Israel as a homeland for the Jewish people. I take it really seriously because it's how I feel. And also I've met so many, especially now running the campaign, people who that it's very important to them and to the world to have a Jewish state that doesn't disappear and constantly under threat. Now I think Netanyahu is making it harder for that to remain true. And he's not making Israel or the US Any safer. But I don't think that a full scale abandonment in terms of all of the defensive capabilities that we help Israel with, full stop, is actually going to resolve the situation or lead to anything better than the current situation we have now. And so I tried not to and this is honestly how I feel. I wouldn't want, I cross my fingers every day because Trump is making our allies want to abandon us. Right. And I hope that they don't because I want to make sure that when he is gone, when we do get rid of him, that we still have friends and that we can understand that we can go through a terrible period of time. As, you know, look at the US And Japan relationship. We were mortal enemies and now we have the strongest alliance on earth. So I feel like we can criticize the Israeli government and Netanyahu and still hold out hope that it will get better. And that in the meantime we shouldn't full scale stop all funding now, even

[Podcast Host]

though they're killing these little kids. I mean, the BBC reported that IDF soldiers, this is the ship for me that Kind of like, I'm like, whoa. I mean, really? Because I kind of bought into the narrative, like, okay, they have to have this. Jewish people need a safe place. And, and, and, and I, I believe that I want. Jews have historically been horrifically persecuted, but when I hear these stories that you don't hear on Western media. BBC broke this, like, 160, I think. Kids shot in the head or in the heart, like, targeted by IDF snipers, little kids. Like, I just feel like there's a moral position that the Democratic Party needs to take in this. And I've had a lot of Jewish scholars on this podcast, like Jason Stanley. I mean, his parents escaped the Holocaust, and he's one of the premier scholars on this, and he says that if we don't criticize Israel, it's going to be very damaging for our democracy and make Jews less safe worldwide with not telling the truth about it.

[Jack Schlossberg]

Well, I would say that. I wouldn't say that. I'm not criticizing Israel. I would say that. I'm saying I wouldn't fund this war that we're fighting alongside Israel and Iran, that as long as that war is going on, that we shouldn't be sending offensive weapons there. That's a huge change from current policy, and that's a huge criticism of Israel and a reflection of what I think is the offensive war in Iran and what Israel is doing in Lebanon as well. Iron Dome is different than that. And I do believe that if you were to full scale abandon that program, I do believe you invite attack. I do believe you invite a wider attack that draws the US Even further into a war in the region. And I think that as a Congress, we need to get our competence back. We need to take seriously the constitutional obligations that were granted to Congress, which was the power to declare war. We should be voting on these issues before we do it. And only if we have a coherent national security strategy can we make a decision like completely abandoning all aid to Israel. And it is a nuanced position. But in short, I do not support this war. I would vote against funding this war. Do I think that I would remain voting to continue Iron Dome funding because of what I think would happen if we didn't? Yes.

[Podcast Host]

Okay. I mean, that's. I appreciate your honesty about all of that. Okay, and then last question. I'm just really giving it to you, Jack, here. If, if you win. Okay. Let's say that you do. And does Hakeem Jeffries have your vote for speaker if the Democrats take the House?

[Jack Schlossberg]

If election were today, he would.

[Podcast Host]

Okay.

[Jack Schlossberg]

If election were today, he would.

[Podcast Host]

Okay. Would you be a member of the Progressive Caucus in the House?

[Jack Schlossberg]

You would? I would.

[Podcast Host]

I really like them. Yeah, I really like them a lot. Okay. Jack Schlossberg, tell my viewers and listeners how to find you, how to help you, how to volunteer for you.

[Jack Schlossberg]

Please. You can see my Instagram page at Jack Uno. Go to our website, www.jackfornewyork.com to look at our policies. You will love them. We're going to Jack's Ricochet rule. It stops the flow of illegal guns into New York. 12. Jack's plan. Jack's fast track plan doubles funding for houses of worship safety in New York. Our our plan to lower the cost of food and close by isolating those tariffs and repealing them. That's all explained there. You will find my stances on health care, Medicare for all, abolish ICE, and most importantly, super PACs are super bad. And you can't trust somebody who's got a super PAC funded by a billionaire. If you do, you're throwing away your vote because you can't trust them to advocate for you. Thank you.

[Podcast Host]

I completely agree. That's all we have. We'll be back later.

[Kiana]

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