In this week’s Scheer Intelligence, Robert Scheer sits down with historian James Loeffler to dismantle the increasingly convenient narrative that antisemitism is whatever politicians say it is. Loeffler’s new book, Exceptional Hatred, traces how America has repeatedly reinvented the meaning of “the Jew”—from religious outsider to racial threat to political scapegoat—and how today’s panic over campus speech and Israel has turned that long history into a blunt instrument for silencing dissent. What emerges in this conversation is not a culture‑war caricature but a sober warning: when the government starts defining what Jews must believe, and which criticisms are forbidden, it isn’t protecting anyone—it’s reviving the very logic the First Amendment was written to prevent.

In this week’s Scheer Intelligence, Robert Scheer sits down with historian James Loeffler to dismantle the increasingly convenient narrative that antisemitism is whatever politicians say it is. Loeffler’s new book, Exceptional Hatred, traces how America has repeatedly reinvented the meaning of “the Jew”—from religious outsider to racial threat to political scapegoat—and how today’s panic over campus speech and Israel has turned that long history into a blunt instrument for silencing dissent. What emerges in this conversation is not a culture‑war caricature but a sober warning: when the government starts defining what Jews must believe, and which criticisms are forbidden, it isn’t protecting anyone—it’s reviving the very logic the First Amendment was written to prevent.

Exceptional Hatred: Free Speech, Fear, and the Fight Over Jewish Identity in America

The former congressman tells Robert Scheer that a provision buried in the 2027 National Defense Authorization Act could integrate the United States and Israel at the highest levels of military technology—without meaningful public debate or congressional scrutiny.Former Congressman Dennis Kucinich has spent decades warning about the machinery of permanent war. But in a new conversation with Robert Scheer, he argues that Congress is now on the verge of crossing a line without precedent in American military history.At the center of Kucinich's warning is Section 219 of the 2027 National Defense Authorization Act, a provision he says would formally integrate key areas of U.S. and Israeli military development, including artificial intelligence, autonomous weapons, quantum sensing, cyber and electronic warfare, biotechnology, missile defense, drones and directed-energy systems.“They call it integration, but I call it a merger,” Kucinich tells Scheer.The implications, he argues, go far beyond traditional military aid or weapons sales. Kucinich warns that the provision could create new counterintelligence risks, deepen U.S. dependence on Israel's military infrastructure and technology, blur questions of war powers and further entangle Washington in Israel's expanding regional conflicts.Even more alarming, Kucinich says, is how little debate the proposal has received. Rather than being considered through a separate treaty or subjected to extensive congressional hearings, the provision has been folded into a massive defense authorization bill that lawmakers will face enormous political pressure to support.“This provision has been smuggled into the bill,” Kucinich argues. “There's never been any debate.”For Scheer, the contradiction is impossible to ignore. At the moment the United States marks 250 years since declaring its independence, Washington may be moving toward an unprecedented military dependence on another state—one whose conduct in Gaza, the West Bank and Lebanon has placed it at the center of international accusations of genocide and grave violations of international law.In this urgent edition of Scheer Intelligence, Scheer and Kucinich examine what Section 219 could mean for American sovereignty, constitutional government and the future of war—and why a provision of such consequence has received so little attention from Congress, the Democratic opposition and the mainstream press.

The former congressman tells Robert Scheer that a provision buried in the 2027 National Defense Authorization Act could integrate the United States and Israel at the highest levels of military technology—without meaningful public debate or congressional scrutiny. Former Congressman Dennis Kucinich has spent decades warning about the machinery of permanent war. But in a new conversation with Robert Scheer, he argues that Congress is now on the verge of crossing a line without precedent in American military history. At the center of Kucinich's warning is Section 219 of the 2027 National Defense Authorization Act, a provision he says would formally integrate key areas of U.S. and Israeli military development, including artificial intelligence, autonomous weapons, quantum sensing, cyber and electronic warfare, biotechnology, missile defense, drones and directed-energy systems. “They call it integration, but I call it a merger,” Kucinich tells Scheer. The implications, he argues, go far beyond traditional military aid or weapons sales. Kucinich warns that the provision could create new counterintelligence risks, deepen U.S. dependence on Israel's military infrastructure and technology, blur questions of war powers and further entangle Washington in Israel's expanding regional conflicts. Even more alarming, Kucinich says, is how little debate the proposal has received. Rather than being considered through a separate treaty or subjected to extensive congressional hearings, the provision has been folded into a massive defense authorization bill that lawmakers will face enormous political pressure to support. “This provision has been smuggled into the bill,” Kucinich argues. “There's never been any debate.” For Scheer, the contradiction is impossible to ignore. At the moment the United States marks 250 years since declaring its independence, Washington may be moving toward an unprecedented military dependence on another state—one whose conduct in Gaza, the West Bank and Lebanon has placed it at the center of international accusations of genocide and grave violations of international law. In this urgent edition of Scheer Intelligence, Scheer and Kucinich examine what Section 219 could mean for American sovereignty, constitutional government and the future of war—and why a provision of such consequence has received so little attention from Congress, the Democratic opposition and the mainstream press.

Dennis Kucinich Warns Congress Is Quietly Merging the U.S. and Israeli War Machines

A bone-chilling documentary about Roy Cohn, Donald Trump’s mentor, reveals the all-American evil that brought us modern-day politics.

A bone-chilling documentary about Roy Cohn, Donald Trump’s mentor, reveals the all-American evil that brought us modern-day politics.

The Man Who Created a President From Beyond the Grave

“Midnight Traveler” tells the harrowing story of Afghani director Hassan Fazili and his family’s displacement as filmed on their cell phones.

“Midnight Traveler” tells the harrowing story of Afghani director Hassan Fazili and his family’s displacement as filmed on their cell phones.

“Midnight Traveler” tells the harrowing story of Afghani director Hassan Fazili and his family’s displacement as filmed on their cell phones.

The extraordinary film that will change your mind about refugees

In a world in which global opinion reigns, public diplomacy rooted in nationalism and propaganda will not save us from pressing crises.

In a world in which global opinion reigns, public diplomacy rooted in nationalism and propaganda will not save us from pressing crises.

In a world in which global opinion reigns, public diplomacy rooted in nationalism and propaganda will not save us from pressing crises.&nbsp;

There’s Only One Superpower Left and It’s Not America

The two international giants are linked in inextricable ways, and yet Americans’ understanding of China consistently lacks nuance.

The two international giants are linked in inextricable ways, and yet Americans’ understanding of China consistently lacks nuance.

The two international giants are linked in inextricable ways, and yet Americans’ understanding of China consistently lacks nuance.&nbsp;

America Keeps Getting China All Wrong

People like Becky Dennison are working to address to one of America’s most urgent crises with a straightforward approach.

People like Becky Dennison are working to address to one of America’s most urgent crises with a straightforward approach.

People like Becky Dennison are working to address to one&nbsp;of America’s most urgent crises with a straightforward approach.&nbsp;

The solution to homelessness is staring us all in the face

In the run-up to the Iraq War, Katharine Gun, the subject of the film “Official Secrets,” nearly changed the course of history with one corageous decision.

In the run-up to the Iraq War, Katharine Gun, the subject of the film “Official Secrets,” nearly changed the course of history with one corageous decision.

The Most Consequential Whistleblower Who Wasn't

A documentary about a black woman’s reunion with relatives who have been passing as white gets to the heart of one of the nation’s founding wounds.

A documentary about a black woman’s reunion with relatives who have been passing as white gets to the heart of one of the nation’s founding wounds.

White Supremacy Is as American as Apple Pie

The mysterious arrest of a Swedish data privacy activist with links to the WikiLeaks founder raises important questions about government surveillance.

The mysterious arrest of a Swedish data privacy activist with links to the WikiLeaks founder raises important questions about government surveillance.

The Latest Victim in the Crucifixion of Julian Assange

Where would America be without the muckraking journalists and the publications that champion their work?

Where would America be without the muckraking journalists and the publications that champion their work?

Where would America be without the muckraking journalists and the publications that champion their work?

Democracy Dies Without Alternative Media

Author and University of Michigan professor Alexandra Minna Stern traces the origins of America's burgeoning white nationalist movement.

Author and University of Michigan professor Alexandra Minna Stern traces the origins of America's burgeoning white nationalist movement.

Is Trump Building a White Ethnostate?

Scheer Intelligence features thoughtful and provocative conversations with "American Originals" -- people who, through a lifetime of engagement with political issues, offer unique and often surprising perspectives on the day's most important issues.

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