cross-posted from: https://lemmy.ml/post/48650874
Once the guardian of the bipartisan pro-Israel consensus, it is now a polarizing force in the party.
June 12, 2026, 5:01 a.m. ET
When Brad Lander opened his Democratic primary bid for New York’s 10th Congressional District late last year, he made a promise that would once have meant political suicide: He would not do “AIPAC’s bidding” in Washington.
Now the June 23 primary is almost here, and AIPAC has been a recurring theme throughout the campaign. A progressive Jew and self-described liberal Zionist, Lander challenged his opponent, the pro-Israel incumbent Dan Goldman, to take a “people’s pledge” to limit money from super PACs. He has sent a steady stream of text and email blasts comparing AIPAC with Wall Street and crypto — a new, unholy trinity of corrupting influences in democratic politics.
I have to admit to vastly underestimating how deeply Israel is dug into our government. Kinda got that foreign money was a big problem, but this is next level.
Yeah I didn’t realize how bad it was until this last year.
They basically control 90% of the seats in Congress and house.
Not to mention governors. Mayors. State prosecutors. Judges.
It’s insane.
They played the long game. Until a few years ago, supporting Israel wasn’t politically toxic.
They really are everywhere on both sides.
And to say things like Israel runs our government and runs our media is supposedly anti Semitic.
Israel doesn’t give us money. The US gives them money.
Then they spend our money on the US military industrial complex