IHIP News: Trump Admin SPIRALING As Dems RISE UP Against FUNDING ISRAEL!

Brad Lander firmly supports progressive policies, including rejecting corporate PAC money, abolishing ICE, and implementing higher taxes on the wealthy. He frames these as essential for fighting for working families and addressing systemic inequalities.

Lander answers 'Yes' to rapid-fire questions on rejecting corporate PAC money, abolishing ICE, and taxing the rich. He details the impact of healthcare costs on working families and the need for wealth redistribution.

Lander advocates for conditioning or cutting military aid to Israel, arguing that unconditional support is inconsistent with international law and human rights. He explicitly labels Israel's destruction of Gaza as 'genocide' and highlights its negative impact on Palestinians, Israel, the Middle East, and US credibility.

Lander states, 'I have been for conditioning aid to Israel since before October 7th... unconditional US support for Israel's destruction of Gaza, which I do consider a genocide.' He mentions signing on to the 'Block the Bombs Act' and 'Ceasefire Compliance Act.'

Both Lander and the host criticize a broader pattern of hypocrisy in US foreign policy, where a 'rules-based international order' is espoused but not consistently applied (e.g., Iraq War, unconditional aid to Israel). They argue that these failures create a vacuum for figures like Trump and foster bigotry.

Lander states, 'all these years of saying rules-based international order while the US did what the president wanted in the Iraq war and in unconditional support for Israel's destruction of Gaza. Anyone could see that's not consistent with international law.' The host adds, 'it's not all about Trump. It's really about failures and not meeting the needs of people in this country that left a vacuum for him.'

Lander praises the new 'pedare tax' in New York, which taxes non-resident owned homes valued over $5 million. This tax is projected to raise $500 million annually to fund universal childcare and schools. He attributes its success to progressive organizing and contrasts it with his opponent's lack of support for taxing the rich.

Lander explains the 'pedare tax' as targeting 'homes in New York valued at more than $5 million owned by people who don't live there most of the time.' He states it will 'raise $500 million a year to pay for universal child care and our schools.'

Lander emphasizes the interconnectedness of universal rights, arguing that fighting bigotry against any group—whether anti-Semitism, transphobia, or Islamophobia—is crucial. He cites the Jewish value of 'Bitella Elohim' (everyone created in the image of God) as a foundation for this belief.

Lander states, 'the lesson of the Holocaust and the lesson of of all forms of bigotry are you cannot leave one group aside... all of universal rights are connected and attached.' He mentions the Jewish value 'Bitella Elohim' as the idea that 'everyone is created in the image of God.'

Lander outlines his approach to working in the House, balancing progressive advocacy with the need for Democratic unity. He cites the successful Democratic caucus focus on healthcare subsidies during a government shutdown as an example of effective collaboration between moderates and progressives.

Lander praises the Democratic caucus for uniting around healthcare subsidies during a government shutdown, stating, 'Democrats, moderates, and progressives came together to say... let's pick a thing that we know is important in people's everyday lives.' He confirms he would vote for Hakeem Jeffries for Speaker.