In the wake of the death of George Floyd, support for the BLM movement was at an all-time high. People started to believe that police were mowing down Black people with reckless abandon, that applicants with Black-sounding names were far less likely to get a job, and that we were one election away from a return to Jim Crow. However, as time went on, we learned that many of these assumptions were wrong. In fact, there was a tremendous backlash to the BLM movement, spurred on by the rise in crime that resulted from many of the policies put forward by its champions, including defunding the police. At a certain point, the general public became bored with constantly being told about the victimization of Black people, and they moved on.
Well, this exact cycle has now occurred with antisemitism. Major stories of antisemitism began gaining public attention in 2013 with the prevalence of the so-called “knockout game,” where young people would sucker-punch unsuspecting pedestrians for no reason other than the fun of it. The primary targets of the knockout game, of course, were visibly Jewish victims.
This antisemitism then built to several attacks on shuls and other gatherings in 2018 and 2019, culminating in the “No Hate, No Fear” solidarity march across the Brooklyn Bridge in January of 2020. The attack in Israel on October 7, 2023 spurred further and more frequent acts of violence against Jews in America and around the world.
But what happened? The public became tired of hearing about antisemitism. And while you or I may want to ensure that the public knows Jews are being targeted, the general public has begun to lose interest. They don’t care about our community here, and they certainly do not care about what is going on in Israel. Here is how that happened.
Since October 8, 2023, Israel, Jews, and their allies have been pushing the narrative about how important Israel is, and how we, as Americans, have a responsibility to support our ally. And in the beginning, we were able to win over hearts and minds. However, very quickly, we lost the backing of most of the Democratic Party. (To be fair, a large segment was never with us, especially the Democratic Socialist wing.) But soon, lies about “genocide” and an “Israeli cabal” took over the party, and even the self-described Shomer Yisrael, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, turned into a kapo and called for the downfall of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Now we are seeing the discussion about Israel and antisemitism divide the Republican Party the same way it divided and eventually overturned the Democratic Party. Because people are sick of hearing about Israel and antisemitism, it has opened the door for a previously shut-out segment of the Republican coalition to gain influence. This segment is led by possibly the worst person in public life today: Nick Fuentes. If you have not heard of this individual yet, get ready. Since the murder of Charlie Kirk (another turning point in the history and future of the conservative movement), Fuentes has begun to pick up steam.
I do not label people Nazis lightly. It’s an overused trope that has lost meaning, especially as the Left has labeled every Republican candidate for president in my adult lifetime a Nazi at some point. However, when Fuentes calls for a “holy war” against Jews and praises Hitler as being “really cool,” I think an exception is warranted.
There was already a strong backlash to Israel among some in the Republican Party — not because of Israel’s actions in Gaza per se, but because of the resources the American taxpayer had to provide to help Israel win the war against Iran and Hamas. Many stopped listening to the Ben Shapiros, Mark Levins, Ted Cruzes, the late Charlie Kirk, and even President Trump — all champions of Israel — and instead turned toward voices complaining about the fiscal costs. Three of the most prominent voices on this side are former comedian Dave Smith, conspiracy theorist Candace Owens, and grifter Tucker Carlson. All three have large followings and were none too pleased about the money and resources President Trump has directed to assist Israel. Because of this, and because Carlson chose to host Fuentes for a friendly discussion, many conservatives are encountering Fuentes for the first time. And just like any internet rabbit hole, once you start listening to someone for one reason, you can easily be drawn into the rest of their worldview.
And that is the danger we as Jews are facing today. People who previously defended Israel and cheered as university presidents were taken down for failing to stand up to antisemitism are beginning to tire of the topic, and they do not want to spend so much money internationally anymore. They are turning away from traditional conservative media and toward people who share their frustrations — and who can eventually persuade them not to like Jews at all.
So, for those who have been saying that the conservative movement is the place for Jews, just be advised that Jews are not safe anywhere indefinitely. If Fuentes succeeds in radicalizing the Republican Party the same way Zohran Mamdani and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez have succeeded in radicalizing the Democratic Party, we may find ourselves with nowhere to go in a frighteningly short amount of time.
Izzo Zwiren is the former host of the Jewish Living Podcast. Follow him and his brothers on their health journey on their YouTube Channel, Brotherly Lovehandles. Izzo lives on Long Island with his wife and three adorable, hilarious children.