jonah valdez

@jonahmv.bsky.social

journalist @theintercept.com send tips: (signal) @jonahmv.05 (proton) jonah.valdez@theintercept.com https://theintercept.com/staff/jonahvaldez/

NEW: I spoke to scholars of Islamophobia about anti-Muslim and anti-Arab tropes used in the Michigan U.S. Senate race against Abdul El-Sayed. One expert called a recent CNN interview w/ Jake Tapper and El-Sayed "sloppy and offensive" and "racist."✍️ @theintercept.com theintercept.com/2026/07/27/a...

Abdul El-Sayed Faces Islamophobic Attacks From GOP and Democratic Establishment

AIPAC has spent nearly $30 million against Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan, fueling ads that paint him as a terrorist sympathizer.

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NEW @theintercept.com: Nancy Pelosi's pick to replace her in Congress, Connie Chan, a progressive SF local lawmaker, has now gained the endorsement of @trackaipac.com, vowing to back a total arms embargo on Israel, in her race against state Sen. Scott Wiener. theintercept.com/2026/07/21/c...

Nancy Pelosi’s Pick for Her SF House Seat Takes Anti-AIPAC Pledge

Pelosi-backed House candidate Connie Chan’s embrace by TrackAIPAC signals the growing influence of a politics skeptical of Israel.

theintercept.com

BREAKING: The political action arm of Jewish Voice for Peace is endorsing Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan, the first-ever U.S. Senate candidate endorsement for the Jewish-led pro-Palestine group known for their anti-genocide protests. ✍️ @theintercept.com theintercept.com/2026/06/29/a...

Abdul El-Sayed Becomes First Senate Candidate Backed by Pro-Palestine Jewish Group

The political arm of Jewish Voice for Peace, known for protesting the genocide in Gaza, is endorsing El-Sayed for Senate in Michigan.

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SCOOP: Rep. Ro Khanna, once a target of TrackAIPAC, has now received its endorsement. He is the first member of Congress who previously had a red TrackAIPAC graphic to be endorsed by the group and is the first to sign its new pledge. Read @theintercept.com theintercept.com/2026/06/17/r...

Once a Target of TrackAIPAC, Ro Khanna Gains Its Endorsement

With endorsements and a new pledge for lawmakers, TrackAIPAC is flexing its growing influence on the Capitol.

theintercept.com

New: GKN Aerospace, the company behind the chemical leak in Garden Grove that displaced 50,000 people, raked in million$ in subcontracts with Lockheed Martin to produce F-35 jet parts during a period when the Israeli military grew its F-35 fleet. @theintercept.com theintercept.com/2026/05/28/g...

Company Behind California Chemical Leak Was Building F-35 Parts Amid Rush of Orders From U.S. and Israel

The military contractor whose leak displaced 50,000 Californians makes millions aiding fighter jet production for Lockheed Martin.

theintercept.com

NEW: Rep. Haley Stevens, D-Mich. and her mother went on a $27,000 trip to Portugal in 2024, all paid for by the centrist/pro-corporate group Center Forward. Now, the group is pouring more than $2 million in ads for her Senate bid in a heated race. @theintercept.com theintercept.com/2026/05/22/h...

Corporate Interests Paid for Haley Stevens' Trip to Portugal — and Her Campaign Ads

Center Forward sent Stevens and her mom to a banking and crypto conference. Two years later, it's spending millions on ads in Michigan.

theintercept.com

NEW: Why would a progressive—CA State Sen Scott Wiener, the leading candidate for Nancy Pelosi's seat—oppose two progressive taxes on billionaires that would help fund healthcare for Californians? For an answer, I looked at Wiener's biggest donors. @theintercept.com theintercept.com/2026/05/14/s...

This California Congressional Hopeful Opposes a Billionaire Tax. So Do His Tech CEO Backers.

Crypto executive Chris Larsen has spent millions fighting billionaire tax measures and funds a PAC backing Wiener.

theintercept.com

NEW: amid the Hasan Piker outrage cycle, both things can be true: 🗳️the Democratic party is looking to this Senate race for answers on who to be in 2028. 🗳️Michigan voters don't care about the party debate and just want to afford rent/healthcare. theintercept.com/2026/04/09/m...

The Democrats Don’t Know Who They’ll Be in 2028. Michigan May Offer an Answer.

The outrage over Abdul El-Sayed’s appearance with Hasan Piker reveals a schism that runs deeper than his Democratic primary race against Mallory McMorrow.

theintercept.com

NEW: We untangled how @trackaipac.com tracks AIPAC. If you’ve ever wondered why one candidate/member of Congress is doomed to a red graphic while another is spared; or how a candidate can have a 🟥 graphic despite taking $0 from AIPAC, this story is for you. theintercept.com/2026/03/26/t...

How Does TrackAIPAC Actually Track AIPAC?

The social media warriors have helped make AIPAC a politically toxic brand — and fueled debate over what it means to be "pro-Israel."

theintercept.com

SCOOP: I spoke with a U.S. doctor who is currently stuck in Gaza. The Israeli govt. is again blocking medical workers from entering or leaving Gaza, the latest restriction placed on the Palestinian territories since Israel-U.S. launched its war on Iran. theintercept.com/2026/03/13/i...

Israel’s Deadly Blockade Traps 7 U.S. Doctors in Gaza

While waging war on Iran, Israel is blocking medical trips into and out of Gaza, putting vulnerable patients at risk.

theintercept.com

NEW: Progressives are already pushing Talarico on Israel & Gaza, ICE. Organizers saw little daylight between he & Crockett on those policies but saw more room to move him than they did her. Also heard he’s being advised on improving on Gaza. W/ @jonahmv.bsky.social theintercept.com/2026/03/04/j...

Will James Talarico Really Fight for Justice in Texas?

The race between Talarico and Rep. Jasmine Crockett emphasized style over substance. Now local organizers want concrete promises.

theintercept.com

EXCLUSIVE: Trump’s Orwellian Board of Peace Consists Entirely of Human Rights Abusers An Intercept analysis finds that every single Board of Peace member state has been rebuked for human rights violations. theintercept.com/2026/03/02/t...

Trump’s Orwellian Board of Peace Consists Entirely of Human Rights Abusers

An Intercept analysis finds that every single Board of Peace member state has been rebuked for human rights violations.

theintercept.com