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

The documentary filmmakers discuss their film about the Ferguson, Missouri protests after the police shooting of an unarmed black teenager in 2014.

The documentary filmmakers discuss their film about the Ferguson, Missouri protests after the police shooting of an unarmed black teenager in 2014.

Sabaah Folayan and Damon Davis: Whose Streets?

The film producer discusses her career in entertainment and her Los Angeles foundation.

The film producer discusses her career in entertainment and her Los Angeles foundation.

Sarah Pillsbury: Breakthrough films and Liberty Hill

The professor and music industry insider discusses the downside of the tech industry's rise.

The professor and music industry insider discusses the downside of the tech industry's rise.

Jonathan Taplin: Move Fast and Break Things

The executive director of the Center for Investigative Reporting discusses new ways to reach more people.

The executive director of the Center for Investigative Reporting discusses new ways to reach more people.

Robert Rosenthal: Embracing new forms of journalistic storytelling

The publisher of the New Republic discusses the changing landscape of the fourth estate.

The publisher of the New Republic discusses the changing landscape of the fourth estate.

Hamilton Fish: Breathing fresh life into journalism

The documentary filmmaker discusses his latest film about the end of Gawker and the billionaire who helped bring it down.

The documentary filmmaker discusses his latest film about the end of Gawker and the billionaire who helped bring it down.

Brian Knappenberger: Nobody Speak

The music industry insider discusses his new book about the summer of love and the changing business of music.

The music industry insider discusses his new book about the summer of love and the changing business of music.

Danny Goldberg: In Search of the Lost Chord

CIA insider Melvin A. Goodman discusses his new book and restarting a constructive dialogue with Russia.

CIA insider Melvin A. Goodman discusses his new book and restarting a constructive dialogue with Russia.

Melvin A. Goodman: A truth-teller at the CIA

The columnist and author discusses how writing has been integral to her life after growing up as a black girl adopted by a white family.

The columnist and author discusses how writing has been integral to her life after growing up as a black girl adopted by a white family.

Rebecca Carroll: Writing as a way to figure things out

Professor and former public defender James Forman, Jr. discusses his new book about the mass incarceration of black men.

Professor and former public defender James Forman, Jr. discusses his new book about the mass incarceration of black men.

James Forman, Jr.: Locking up Our Own

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.

Share Scheer Intelligence

Sign up to save your podcasts

Scheer Intelligence

Scheer Intelligence episodes

About Scheer Intelligence

More shows like Scheer Intelligence

Bookworm

Left, Right & Center

Economic Update with Richard D. Wolff

Nocturne

The Treatment

The Business

Good Food

Today's Top Tune

Behind the News with Doug Henwood

Jacobin Radio

The Nation Podcasts

Ralph Nader Radio Hour

Press Play with Madeleine Brand

The Katie Halper Show

The Dig

The Intercept Briefing

Lost Notes: Groupies

Bodies

Useful Idiots with Katie Halper and Aaron Maté

Bad Faith

The Socialist Program

Lever Time

Geopolitical Economy Report

The Chris Hedges Report

Drop Site Livestream