The Rubin Report Podcast
The Rubin Report Podcast
June 12, 2026

Dems Embracing of Antisemitism Is About to Backfire | Batya Ungar-Sargon

YouTube · h-nFhoA7Y8U

Quick Read

Batya Ungar-Sargon argues that the Democratic Party's embrace of anti-Zionism and antisemitism is a strategic misstep that will ultimately backfire, contrasting it with the historical role of Jews in America and the right's rejection of antisemitic elements.
Antisemitism has shifted from the right to the left, with anti-Zionism now a progressive litmus test.
American Jews were historically foundational partners, not an oppressed minority, and their loyalty should be to the nation.
The guest believes mainstream American voters will ultimately reject antisemitic rhetoric, causing the left's current stance to backfire.

Summary

Batya Ungar-Sargon discusses her book, 'The Jews and the Left,' explaining why American Jews historically became Democrats and why she believes the left has now turned against them. She asserts that antisemitism, once primarily on the right, now largely originates from the left, with anti-Zionism becoming a litmus test for progressive candidates. Ungar-Sargon contends that American Jews were foundational partners in the nation's creation, not an oppressed minority, and their loyalty should be to the country, not a specific party. She expresses optimism about America's future, believing that mainstream voters, both Democratic and Republican, will ultimately reject antisemitic sentiments and that the current anti-Israel stance on the left has a ceiling.
This discussion challenges conventional political narratives about antisemitism and Jewish political alignment, offering a contrarian view on the current state of American politics. It highlights a significant ideological shift within the Democratic Party and its potential electoral consequences, urging a re-evaluation of historical ties and national loyalty for American Jews.

Takeaways

  • Historically, Jews became Democrats due to factors like the labor movement, FDR's New Deal, and the Civil Rights movement, with antisemitism primarily on the right.
  • Today, the guest argues, the vast majority of anti-Jewish sentiment comes from the left, while the right is actively expelling such elements.
  • American Jews are demographically overrepresented among 'overcredentialed college-educated elites' who lean left, despite the left's current anti-Israel stance.
  • The guest defines Zionism as supporting a single Jewish state on the ancestral homeland of Jews, a minimal proposition rejected by many on the progressive left.
  • Ungar-Sargon asserts that American Jews were never an oppressed minority in the U.S. but were seen as foundational partners by the Founding Fathers.
  • She expresses strong optimism about America, believing that the country's inherent rejection of hatred towards Jews will prevent anti-Zionism from succeeding in the mainstream.

Insights

1Historical Shift in Antisemitism and Jewish Political Alignment

Batya Ungar-Sargon explains that Jews historically aligned with the Democratic Party due to factors like the labor movement, FDR's New Deal, and their support for civil rights. At that time, antisemitism was predominantly found on the right. She argues that this has reversed, with the majority of anti-Jewish sentiment now originating from the left, while the right has become more effective at expelling antisemitic voices.

Guest's historical analysis of Jewish migration, labor movement involvement, support for the New Deal and Civil Rights, and current observations on political party dynamics regarding antisemitism.

2American Jews as Foundational Partners, Not Oppressed Minority

Ungar-Sargon challenges the perception of American Jews as an oppressed minority. She highlights 300 years of American Jewish history before their alignment with Democrats, during which they were considered a fundamental part of the country. The Founding Fathers viewed Jews as partners in nation-building, appreciating their role as 'stewards of the Torah' and their entrepreneurial spirit.

Reference to her book, 'The Jews and the Left,' and historical context about the Founding Fathers' views and Jewish contributions to American capitalism and values.

3Anti-Zionism as the Left's Litmus Test and its Political Ceiling

The guest states that anti-Zionism has become the most important litmus test for being a 'member in good standing' on the left, making it impossible for a progressive candidate to be a Zionist. However, she believes this stance has a 'ceiling' because the vast majority of Americans, including Democratic voters, are Zionists. She predicts that potential electoral losses in 2028 due to anti-Zionist candidates will force Democrats to reverse course, as they 'hate losing' more than anything.

Discussion of progressive candidates like Graham Platner and Abdullah Sayed, and the belief that most Democratic voters are still Zionists and disgusted by antisemitism.

4America's Inherent Rejection of Antisemitism and Optimism for the Future

Ungar-Sargon expresses strong optimism about America, stating that 'something in the soil just rejects hatred of Jews.' She views current antisemitic trends as an 'elite phenomenon' on both sides of the political spectrum, particularly amplified online. She believes this hatred cannot succeed in the mainstream and that America's 'superpower' is its love for fellow Americans and its status as 'the least racist country to ever exist.'

Reference to Thomas Massie's electoral loss and Tucker Carlson's underwater approval with Republican voters as evidence that 'you cannot go full anti-semite in America... and succeed in the mainstream.'

Lessons

  • American Jews should recognize their historical role as foundational partners in the U.S. and prioritize loyalty to the nation over any single political party.
  • Voters should be aware of the shifting landscape of antisemitism, critically evaluating its presence across the political spectrum rather than assuming its traditional alignment.
  • Individuals concerned about political extremism should support candidates and movements that actively reject antisemitic and anti-American sentiments, regardless of party affiliation.

Notable Moments

The guest's strong assertion that America's 'best days are ahead of us' and her rejection of the 'woke mind virus factory' narrative from universities.

This highlights her fundamental optimism and her belief that American decline is a narrative, not a reality, influenced by elite institutions.

The discussion about Graham Platner, a candidate with a Nazi tattoo, being embraced by parts of the left, contrasted with the right's rejection of figures like Tucker Carlson and Fuentes.

This moment serves as a stark example of the guest's argument about the left's current embrace of problematic figures for political gain, and the right's perceived willingness to 'kick out' such elements.

Quotes

"

"The vast majority of today's anti-Jewish sentiment, I think, comes from the left, whereas the right is doing a really good job of kicking these people out."

Batya Ungar-Sargon
"

"We were never an oppressed minority in America. And this is a history that has been utterly lost both to the Jewish community and to many in the non-Jewish community."

Batya Ungar-Sargon
"

"Zionist to me is like do you think planet earth should have a single Jewish state on the ancestral homeland of Jews. Right. It's a very minimum proposition."

Batya Ungar-Sargon
"

"I feel you cannot go full anti-semite in America. This is the message of the book and and succeed in the mainstream."

Batya Ungar-Sargon
"

"We are the least racist country to ever exist in the history of humanity ever. ever. And that's just a superpower."

Batya Ungar-Sargon
"

"America would not be America without us. We were heritage Americans. And it's just it's appalling that this is not part of the discourse."

Batya Ungar-Sargon

Q&A

Recent Questions

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