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📰 Top Stories This Week

The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) released a report finding that more than 20 percent of appointees to New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani’s transition team have extremist backgrounds. The report names individuals who called Hamas’ Oct. 7 terror attacks on Israeli civilians “justified” and who have claimed that “Zionists are worse than Haman of ancient times, the Inquisition, and the Nazis.”

• Go deeper: The report documents that a significant share of appointees are connected to groups that “openly promote terror and harass Jewish people.” While some of these groups, like Jewish Voice for Peace, claim to represent the Jewish community, their inclusion should alarm anyone who cares about genuine representation and who rejects the cynical tokenization of extremist voices.
   
• Our take: In a press conference, Mr. Mamdani claimed that the ADL’s report oftentimes ignores the distinction between antisemitism and criticism of the Israeli government. This is a red herring. Justifying the murder of Jews or comparing Israel to Nazis isn’t a critique, it’s demonization.

The Senate Appropriations Committee has proposed $330 million in funding for the federal Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP) as part of its draft Homeland Security spending bill for fiscal year 2026.

• Why it matters: With antisemitic attacks and threats on the rise nationally, NSGP funding is a lifeline for Jewish institutions, supporting the purchase of security cameras, reinforced doors, protective barriers, and other measures that help communities gather safely.

• Go deeper: The Senate’s proposed increase comes in far below the $1 billion that a coalition of 46 Jewish organizations called for following the murder of Sarah Milgrim and Yaron Lischinsky outside the Capital Jewish Museum in May.

• Fringe Jewish organizations have previously opposed increased funding for the Nonprofit Security Grant Program.

• Our take: Federal support for nonprofit security should not be seen as discretionary, but as a civil rights imperative. Jewish organizations deserve predictable, sufficient, and accessible funding to safeguard lives and institutions. Continued advocacy toward increasing NSGP funding, reducing bureaucratic confusion, and ensuring transparency around award decisions is essential.

Protecting Students on Campus Act advances amid concerns over antisemitism.

A bipartisan group from the House of Representatives introduced the Protecting Students on Campus Act, legislation that would require colleges and universities receiving federal funding to more prominently display information about how students can file Title VI discrimination complaints.

• Go deeper: Any schools receiving federal funding would also be required to report annually to the Department of Education’s inspector general about the number of Title VI complaints they received in the previous year and the actions taken by the school.

• Schools in the top five percent of total complaints filed, proportional to their student population, would be subject to an audit by the inspector general.

• Why it matters: Since October 7, Jewish students across the country have reported a sharp rise in antisemitic incidents, including harassment, intimidation, and the disruption of campus life. Clear standards and accountability mechanisms are critical to ensuring that universities meet their civil rights obligations.

• Our take: Jewish students should not have to choose between their education and their safety. Protecting students from harassment and discrimination is not a threat to free expression. Universities that accept federal funding have a responsibility to uphold civil rights consistently, including when antisemitism is involved.

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