Deborah Lipstadt, the State Department’s special envoy to monitor and combat antisemitism, joins Margaret Hoover to talk about the surge of hatred against Jews worldwide since October 7th and why she considers it a threat to democracy.

Lipstadt, who has studied antisemitism and Holocaust denialism for decades, details the double standard she sees in the muted response to the Hamas attack from organizations and corporations that have quickly spoken out against racism and other injustices in the past. She also questions why women’s rights groups have not been more vocal about Hamas’ use of sexual violence against women.

She reflects on the attitudes driving protests against Israel on college campuses and elsewhere, as well as the prospect that diplomatic progress in the Middle East could quell hostility toward Jews.

In addition, Lipstadt addresses China’s promotion of antisemitism, dissent within the Biden administration over the war in Gaza, and allegations that Israel is committing genocide. 

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