Daily Kickoff: Pentagon appointee raises concerns over isolationist bent

Michael DiMino, tapped as deputy assistant secretary of defense for the Middle East, has said that the U.S. has ‘minimal to nonexistent’ vital interests in the region

Michael DiMino, tapped as deputy assistant secretary of defense for the Middle East, has said that the U.S. has ‘minimal to nonexistent’ vital interests in the region

The U.S. special envoy to monitor and combat antisemitism also spoke about her hopes for the Trump administration’s efforts to fight antisemitism during a roundtable with reporters

The incoming Trump administration’s nominee to be secretary of state is expected to enjoy an easy glide-path to confirmation with overwhelming bipartisan support

The Biden administration rejected such an effort even as Houthi attacks ramped up in the Middle East

The lawmakers lambasted Biden for failing to nominate someone to fill the position, which was created in December 2023

The U.S. special envoy to monitor and combat antisemitism also spoke about her hopes for the Trump administration’s efforts to fight antisemitism during a roundtable with reporters

Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), the former chair of the House Progressive Caucus who has been a leading supporter of efforts to block weapons sales to Israel, is set to join the influential House Foreign Affairs Committee, House Democratic leadership announced on Tuesday. Jayapal will join Reps. George Latimer (D-NY), Johnny Olszewski (D-MD), Julie Johnson (D-TX)... Read More

The bill passed the House by a 243-140 vote, with 45 Democrats in support

The Jewish communal security group said ‘there are few governors who have shown greater interest or been a stronger partner’ in building relationships with the Jewish community

Trager, a Senate Armed Services Committee staffer and former Washington Institute fellow, has focused his research on Egypt and the Muslim Brotherhood

Rep. Thomas Massie is the most notorious of the GOP’s right-wing rebels, emerging as the only Republican who refused to support House Speaker Mike Johnson in this last week’s leadership election

State senator Ben Kramer, a longtime Van Hollen backer, said he believes Maryland’s senior senator has been swayed by anti-Israel propaganda

After bipartisan dealmaking efforts failed, Congress will likely conclude its business, in the worst period of antisemitism in decades, without passing any major new legislation on the issue

The retiring Manning, who led the House antisemitism task force, linked that trend both to the Oct. 7 attack — and to President Trump’s first election

The reliably pro-Israel Democrat joins a roster that includes a significant number of lawmakers who voted to block U.S. aid to Israel

Evans tells JI: ‘We cannot live in a world with a nuclear Iran’

The New Hampshire Democrat, up for re-election in 2026, is taking over the top Democratic spot on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee

Daily Kickoff: The last effort to pass the Antisemitism Awareness Act this year

“Steam is selling a video game that represents nothing less than an open invitation of violence against Israelis and Jews,” Torres said in a letter to Valve President Gabe Newell

The 2025 National Defense Authorization Act was released Saturday evening, without the antisemitism bill, following opposition from House Speaker Mike Johnson

Sen. Tammy Duckworth sent a lengthy letter to constituents this week about her decision to vote against resolutions that would have cut off aid to Israel

‘Sue every university that refuses to keep students safe based on their religion. Make them regret their choices,’ Harmeet Dhillon said. ‘Sue each and every violent protester and organizers.’

Mast is among the leading opponents of a two-state solution and aid to the Palestinians in the House

'Terror is in woven into the fabric of UNRWA, and there is no hope for peace in the Middle East if UNRWA is allowed to continue to operate,’ lawmakers said

Abrams: ‘It’s hard to believe that this rebel army, which now has to worry about governing the whole country, would want to start a fight with Israel’

Mast is among the leading opponents of a two-state solution and aid to the Palestinians in the House

‘It’s holding as fast as it can,’ despite breaches on both sides, Amina Mohammed says at Aspen Security Forum

Some Jewish leaders in New Jersey are wary of the congresswoman for ‘playing both sides of the fence’ as she begins her race for governor

A group of House members said that, in accusing Israel of genocide, the NGO was ‘mislead[ing] the public by standing with the narratives produced and promoted by Hamas’

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer wants to insert the legislation in a wide-ranging defense bill, while Speaker Mike Johnson wants a standalone vote

The group of six Democrats could impact the level of support for measures against Israel

A leader of the Senate’s anti-Israel bloc, the Maryland Democrat renewed calls for blocking military aid to Israel at Aspen Security Forum

Ocasio-Cortez said she had “led a whip operation to organize a record-high number of ‘no’ votes” on supplemental aid to Israel this year

If elected, the Florida state legislator, who has a history of inflammatory comments, would be the fourth Jewish Republican in the next Congress

Bresnahan also said he doesn’t think a two-state solution is still viable, a year into the war in Gaza

The bill increases criminal penalties for those who commit or attempt certain crimes on behalf of foreign adversaries

House members expressed ‘deep outrage’ about the attacks, which they said ‘have caused tremendous fear and distress within the Jewish community worldwide’

Former Democratic Rep. Robert Wexler: ‘When it comes to the interests of the Jewish community and having an attorney general that will fight for the protection of the Jewish community, we could not do better than Pam Bondi’

‘What I hope happens is that Trump focuses on wedging Iran from China, as opposed to being obsessed with getting Saudi Arabia into the Abraham Accords,’ the Massachusetts representative said

Sen. Chuck Schumer put forth the bill as an amendment in negotiations with congressional leaders; if successful, the legislation is on the fast-track to passage