The Joy Reid Show
Episode: Muslim In America: The MPAC Interview
Date: February 11, 2026
Host: Joy-Ann Reid
Guest: Salam Al-Marayati, President of the Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC)
Episode Overview
This compelling episode explores the state of Muslims in America amidst a resurgence of white Christian nationalism, institutional rollbacks of DEI initiatives, Islamophobia in politics, persistent stereotypes, and ongoing U.S. foreign policy contradictions in the Middle East. Joy Reid welcomes Salam Al-Marayati, a leading advocate for Muslim civic engagement and head of MPAC, for a wide-ranging discussion on Muslim identity, American politics, media representation, and pathways forward.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Institutional Setbacks and the “New Trump Era”
- The episode opens with news about the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, laying off key curators—its only Black, Muslim, and Indigenous staff—signaling a troubling anti-DEI wave paralleling broader national backsliding ([00:04]).
- Joy links these actions to a climate in which diversity and inclusion are “veritable crimes,” reflecting the normalization of right-wing attacks on marginalized groups, especially Muslims.
2. Muslim Political Representation and Changing Attitudes
- Historic Wins: Noted victories like Zohran Mamdani in NYC and a Muslim woman as lieutenant governor in Virginia showcase progress, even as anti-Muslim campaigns intensify ([03:08]).
- Open Identity: Salam traces the shift from Muslim candidates hiding their faith to “leaning in” and taking pride in Muslim identity, particularly pro-Palestinian stances—something “suicidal” just a few years ago ([04:30]).
- Assimilation Myths: Addressing claims that “Muslims can’t assimilate,” both note America’s deep Muslim roots—especially among Black Americans—challenging stereotypes and highlighting overlooked Black Muslim experiences ([09:08]).
“If a person was Muslim and he wanted to run for office, he would hide that. … But now things have changed.”
— Salam Al-Marayati [04:30]
3. Internal Muslim Community Divides and Colonial Legacy
- Examines the lingering schism between immigrant and Black Muslims; Salam acknowledges the legacy of colonial attitudes and colorism imported from majority-Muslim societies ([10:00]).
- Younger American Muslims are resolving these divides, fostering a more united, multicultural Muslim identity.
4. Media Representation, Islamophobia, and the National Narrative
- Scapegoating: Discusses how Muslims are uniquely collective scapegoats for violence—unlike white Christians or others—reflecting institutional double standards ([15:23]).
- Lack of Voices: Notes the scarcity of Muslim experts in mainstream media and the “can’t lose, can’t win” dynamic created by underrepresentation ([15:50]).
“When there is a Muslim that is involved in any form of crime, all Muslims have to answer for it.”
— Joy-Ann Reid [15:23]
5. US Foreign Policy, War, and Perpetual Double Standards
- Salam unpacks 100+ years of U.S. and European interference in the Middle East—arbitrary borders, resource grabs, and endless cycles of war that are justified through national security narratives ([18:32]).
- Iraq & Afghanistan: Both share personal and political reflections on devastation in Iraq and Afghanistan, noting double victimization—from tyrants and foreign interventions ([19:05], [21:19]).
“More importantly, we as Americans have to figure out what kind of relationship we want to have with the people of the Middle East.”
— Salam Al-Marayati [26:30]
6. The Palestine Crisis and US Moral Dissonance
- Explores current U.S.-backed Israeli policies in Gaza as an “ultimate moral contradiction” ([32:23]), with both parties maintaining the same foreign policy due to pro-Israel lobbying pressure ([32:50]).
- Salam reveals personal experience being pushed out of a congressional commission at the behest of pro-Israel groups—a microcosm of the “Good Muslim/Bad Muslim” dichotomy in American power ([32:52]).
“For us, the foreign policy of either Democratic or Republican administrations have been the same... the policies by and large are the same.”
— Salam Al-Marayati [32:23]
- Growing pro-Palestinian empathy on U.S. campuses signals a generational shift, reminiscent of Vietnam and anti-apartheid activism ([38:06]).
7. Muslim American Advocacy and the Work of MPAC
- Salam describes MPAC's founding and mission: fostering proactive Muslim engagement in American society, advocating for reform within the Muslim community, and pushing for accurate Muslim representation ([46:00]).
- Highlights efforts in changing public opinion (especially through Hollywood and new media), transforming policy, and mentoring new generations of Muslim-American leaders.
“We don't see any dissonance between being a good American citizen and being a good Muslim. In fact, to be a good Muslim, you have to be a good American citizen.”
— Salam Al-Marayati [48:35]
8. Hollywood, Tech, and Evolving Cultural Narratives
- Significant progress has been made in Hollywood, thanks to tireless education and bridge-building (notably by Sue Obeidi). Still, Muslim representation is far from proportionate and struggles continue ([49:38]).
“Beggars can’t be choosers, as they say. So we’re used to it. And therefore, I believe Muslim artists, there's more resilience.”
— Salam Al-Marayati [52:02]
- Discussion extends to Silicon Valley, AI, and the challenges of keeping pace with technology-driven narrative-shaping.
9. Challenges in Traditional and New Media
- Despite a handful of high-profile Muslim journalists, the field is largely devoid of Muslim voices. Enabling more young Muslims to enter and succeed in media is a pressing task ([57:59]).
- Social media offers alternative access to truth, countering billionaire- and establishment-driven attempts to control the narrative (notably CBS and Bari Weiss) ([61:32]).
“People are finding out alternative methods of getting information, and they know what’s happening now. Before, you didn’t know…”
— Salam Al-Marayati [64:33]
10. Ongoing and Future MPAC Initiatives
- MPAC focuses on:
- Reform of national security policy to challenge the selective labeling of Muslims as security threats ([66:42])
- Defending First Amendment rights, particularly for pro-Palestinian student protesters ([68:53])
- Studying and countering sources of anti-Muslim animus and ideology in America ([70:53])
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
“In the status quo, if you say, let's cover the genocide in Gaza, you're accused of being a terrorist sympathizer. But if you support war, then you’re a national security expert.”
— Salam Al-Marayati [07:28] -
“We even joked around that if we wanted somebody to lose, we’d endorse that candidate, and that would be our strategy.”
— Salam Al-Marayati, on pro-Palestinian advocacy in politics [04:42] -
“Religion promotes social conversion, not necessarily theological conversion. That's between the person and God.”
— Salam Al-Marayati [47:52] -
“It's hypocrisy when our political leaders take billions of dollars from Muslims overseas. But when Muslims are successful here, they claim that we're invading and we're infiltrating America.”
— Salam Al-Marayati [26:30] -
“We teach them about great Americans, great leaders who… went against the grain and spoke out for what was right… and then we punish them by calling them anti-Semitic. They didn’t buy it. None of them are buying it.”
— Salam Al-Marayati, on student protestors [38:44]
Important Timestamps
- 00:04: Opening monologue on the Boston MFA layoffs, DEI backlash, and context for the conversation
- 04:30: Salam discusses the shift in Muslim American political engagement and pride
- 10:00: The division within the Muslim community and its roots in colonialism
- 14:28: Analysis of counterterrorism policies, scapegoating, and the “cuckoo” nature of U.S. approaches
- 19:05: Reflections on U.S. wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, their legacies, and personal impacts
- 32:23: U.S. foreign policy continuity, lobbying, and the "Good Muslim/Bad Muslim" dichotomy
- 38:06: Emerging pro-Palestinian sentiment in America, especially among the young
- 46:00: MPAC’s founding story and the logic of public engagement
- 49:38: The state of Muslim representation in Hollywood and other media
- 57:59: Challenges and strategies for Muslim representation in news/media
- 61:32: Billionaire media consolidation and attempts to police discourse on Palestine
- 66:42: Current and upcoming MPAC priorities: security policy, First Amendment defense, and counternarratives
- 76:12: What gives Salam joy and hope; family, youth, and informed activism
Tone and Language
The conversation is a blend of forthright critique and hopefulness—wry, sometimes biting, yet deeply earnest. Both Joy and Salam are intellectually rigorous as well as personally relatable, using humor, personal anecdote (from musical tastes to football teams), and emotional honesty to ground a sweeping analysis of American life and politics.
Conclusion
This episode is a must-listen for anyone seeking to understand the realities of Muslim life in America and the intersection of faith, politics, race, war, and media. It’s an unflinching, humane, and ultimately hopeful conversation that spotlights both systemic injustices and the possibilities for solidarity and change.
Listen to the full conversation for more on MPAC and Salam Al-Marayati’s work at mpac.org.