Radiolab – "Father K" (October 13, 2017)

Host: WNYC Studios
Reported by: Simon Adler
Key Voices: Father Khader El Yateem, Kayla Santos Suoso, Linda Sarsour, Jad Abumrad, Robert Krulwich

Main Theme

This episode tells the story of Father Khader El Yateem, a Palestinian-American Lutheran pastor and community leader who runs for New York City Council in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn—a district marked by deep racial, ethnic, and political divisions. Through his candidacy, the episode explores themes of identity politics, community mobilization, and the challenges of representing both an underrepresented minority and a broader, often-hostile constituency, all against the backdrop of post-9/11 America and the Trump era.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Setting the Stage: Bay Ridge’s Diverse & Divided Landscape [01:14–04:49]

• Simon Adler attends a City Council debate in Bay Ridge, observing an audience that’s older and predominantly white, concerned with local issues like school overcrowding and daily inconveniences.
• A racist outburst from an audience member (“Get the freaking Asians out of here. Get the Arab people and the freaking Asians out of here...” [04:46]) shocks the room and sets the tone for the deep ethnic divisions present.

2. Meet Father K: An Unusual Candidate [05:23–06:53]

• Father Khader El Yateem, a 6’3” Palestinian-American Christian minister, responds to the racist outburst:

  “There is an elephant in the room. And it’s called racism and discrimination in this community right here.” [05:28]

• El Yateem introduces himself as “an Arab American Palestinian Lutheran pastor in southwest Brooklyn running for City Council. Because I want to bring a new bold, fresh, inclusive, powerful voice...” [07:16]

3. Father K's Biography [07:45–10:08]

• Immigrated from Bethlehem, West Bank, after being unjustly imprisoned by Israeli soldiers during the First Intifada.
• Chose a path of ministry over violent resistance, saying:

  “Absolutely not. This is not the way I want to live the rest of my life... The only way I can do that was through become a minister.” [09:45]

4. The Context: The Arab-American Experience in Bay Ridge [10:23–14:16]

• Bay Ridge is depicted as a deeply layered mosaic of immigrant communities, with a growing Arab-American (though under-counted) population, estimated at 20–30,000.
• Post-9/11, Arab-Americans in Bay Ridge faced surveillance (NYPD’s Demographics Unit, NSEERS registration program) and developed a culture of mistrust toward government institutions.
• Linda Sarsour:

  “When those things happened, none of their local representatives… stood up and said, this is wrong. Don't target my constituents…” [18:37]

5. Why Father K? The Calculus Behind His Candidacy [21:50–23:32]

• After planners like Sarsour step back as potential candidates, El Yateem’s intersectional identity (Arab, Christian, Lutheran pastor, parent, NYPD clergy liaison) is seen as uniquely capable of bridging divides.
• Kayla Santos Suoso:

  “He's the person with the most complex identity that might just be so complex that it'll work.” [22:39]

6. Mobilizing the Arab-American Vote [24:36–29:36]

• Father K and his team attempt to register as many Arab-American voters as possible, combatting decades of reluctance and misinformation about political engagement.
• Many are first-time registrants, unfamiliar or mistrustful:

  “Sometimes when he'd ask people to register to vote, they'd respond, but why? ‘We already gave you money.’” [28:52]

• Despite efforts, the campaign acknowledges a realistic ceiling: aiming for 1,000 votes from the Arab community in a primary with about 4,000 needed to win.

7. Complexities Within Communities [29:41–32:06]

• Arabic Christian voters, largely Republican and skeptical of El Yateem’s alliances with Muslims, resist supporting him.
• El Yateem shares a friend’s comment:

  “We cannot support him… because he's very close with the Muslims and they will take advantage of him.” [31:47]

8. Reaching White Voters and the Broader District [32:21–39:16]

• Encounters with long-time white residents reveal anxieties (“It's more foreigners than American, and it's scary.” [32:43]) and reluctance, even among Democrats, to support an Arab candidate.
• The campaign realizes it must appeal beyond identity, focusing also on everyday issues: transit delays, gentrification, illegal home conversions.
• El Yateem is labeled a “radical leftist Palestinian cleric” in opponent mailers, with conspiracy-laden responses online.

9. Building Bridges with Progressive Whites [41:03–44:00]

• El Yateem secures the endorsement of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), gaining significant volunteer and logistical support, especially among progressives energized by Bernie Sanders.

10. Tightrope: Transcending and Embracing Identity [44:00–46:05]

• El Yateem tries to walk the “incredibly tiny tightrope” of both being a voice for the voiceless Arab-American community and convincing the majority that he can represent everyone:

  “At the end of the day, my identity is who I am. I am running as who I am, and I will not allow anybody to take that away from me.” [45:15]

Election Day: The Final Push

[51:16–62:57]

• The campaign operates two parallel get-out-the-vote operations: one focused intensively on Arab-American voters (many first-timers, needing personal hand-holding) and one on established, mostly white, older, reliable Democratic votes.
• Volunteers and family members scramble to provide rides, personal encouragement, and reminders, especially in the Arab community.
• As reports come in, a turnout gap becomes clear: “Poll sites where we have strong support are showing lower turnout... Poll sites where we know our opponent has strong support, seeing higher.” [59:12]

Results & Reflections

[63:10–74:02]

• El Yateem narrowly loses, by just under 700 votes (about 7%).
• Barriers identified: No Arabic translators at polls, despite a surge in first-time Arab voters; parallel campaigns may have diluted resources and messaging; lingering racism and reluctance among whites to support an Arab candidate.
• El Yateem:

  “Because we have almost 3,000 people came out and voted. We can make a difference in any election. And that's why I said, we cannot slow down now. We need to continue to educate the community… We just can't.” [69:03]

• Jad Abumrad reflection:

  “I feel like this is him recognizing the nature of the game and deciding to come from a position of strength. And I say all for it.” [70:31]

Notable Quotes & Moments with Timestamps

• [05:28] Khader El Yateem:
  “There is an elephant in the room. And it's called racism and discrimination in this community right here.”
• [09:45] Khader El Yateem (on refusing retaliation post-prison):
  “Absolutely not. This is not the way I want to live the rest of my life... The only way I can do that was through become a minister.”
• [18:37] Linda Sarsour (on lack of local representation):
  “None of their local representatives... stood up and said, this is wrong. Don't target my constituents…”
• [22:39] Kayla Santos Suoso:
  “He’s like the person with the most complex identity that might just be so complex that it'll work.”
• [24:36] Khader El Yateem (on skeptical voters):
  “There are… Arab Americans who are citizens, but… refuse to be part of the political system… because [they] don’t trust it.”
• [28:52] Simon Adler (on first-time registrants):
  “Sometimes when he'd ask people to register to vote, they'd respond, but why? ‘We already gave you money.’”
• [31:47] Khader El Yateem (on inter-communal mistrust):
  “We cannot support him… because he's very close with the Muslims and they will take advantage of him…”
• [70:03] Khader El Yateem (post-election):
  “The will of the community? We have demands. We have political power. And we have an address now. And the address is Khader Elia Team. So elected officials, you want to talk to us, you come and speak to us through Khadr Elia Team. That's the only way you can talk to us.”

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [01:14] – The Debate & Tensions Surface
• [05:23] – Father K’s Stand
• [07:45] – Father K’s Origins
• [10:23] – Bay Ridge: Layers of History
• [18:37] – Post-9/11 Mistrust & Surveillance
• [22:39] – Why Father K Runs
• [24:36] – Mobilizing the Vote
• [29:41] – Arab Christians’ Skepticism
• [32:21] – Bay Ridge’s White Democrats
• [41:03] – The DSA Alliance
• [51:16] – Election Day & Double GOTV
• [63:10] – Election Night & Fallout
• [66:01] – Why Did He Lose?
• [70:03] – Post-Election Resolve & Reflections

Takeaways

• The episode powerfully demonstrates the collision between intersectional candidate identity, institutional barriers, community mistrust, and the enduring realities of American racial and political divisions.
• Despite “losing” the election, the campaign succeeded in bringing out an unprecedented number of Arab-American voters—tripling historical turnout and giving the community a new sense of political address and possibility ("We have an address now. And the address is Khader Elia Team." [70:03]).
• Father K's journey spotlights both the possibility and the limits of coalition-building in polarized times—a lesson for democracy in an era of diversity and division.

[End of Summary]