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Podcast Episode

The Israel Lobby Is More Desperate Than Ever

Current Affairs··1 September 2026·36 min

About this episode

🌹 Use the code "15OFF" for a discount on Current Affairs: https://www.currentaffairs.org/membership Eli Clifton is an investigative journalist and co-founder of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, and Ian Lustick is a political scientist specializing in U.S. foreign policy and Israel-Palestine. They join Current Affairs editor in chief Nathan J. Robinson to discuss their new book, Israel’s Lobby: America in the Grip of a Foreign Power, which examines the history, methods, and influence of the Israel lobby on American politics and U.S. foreign policy. 🏛️ Get the book: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Israels-Lobby/Eli-Clifton/9781668210840 0:00-4:00 The Origins of Israel’s Influence on U.S. Policy 4:00-9:22 How the Israel Lobby Changes U.S. Policy 9:22-12:06 When Presidents Defy the Israel Lobby 12:06-15:43 How the Lobby Punishes Politicians 15:43-18:32 How the United Democracy Project Influences Elections 18:32-22:14 How Accusations of Antisemitism Are Weaponized 22:14-26:46 American Jews vs. the Israel Lobby 26:46-28:33 Does the Republican Party Need the Israel Lobby? 28:33-31:12 Citizens United, AIPAC, and Abdul El-Sayed 31:12-36:24 The Israel Lobby Under Biden and Trump 🦩Subscribe to Current Affairs: https://www.currentaffairs.org/membership