Shibley Telhami
@stelhami.bsky.social
Passionately Egalitarian. Professor, University of Maryland; Director, Critical Issues Poll; NR Senior Fellow, Brookings. Views are my Own. RT≠Endorsement
In his stunning victory, El-Sayed has also ignited an electoral transformation on Israel/Palestine. This has been a long time coming. In 2014, I wrote this article in Foreign Policy, looking ahead: "America Has a Plan. And, No, It Isn't One That Israel Would Like." foreignpolicy.com/2014/03/02/a...
"Stevens called El-Sayed to concede Wednesday, and she issued a statement saying she would back El-Sayed’s candidacy. “I am proud to offer my support as he takes on Mike Rogers in the general election,” she said." apnews.com/article/mich...
Abdul El-Sayed wins Michigan Senate primary in major victory for Democrats’ progressive wing
Abdul El-Sayed has won Michigan’s Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate in a victory for the party’s progressive wing in a battleground state.
apnews.com
There you have it! Stunning victory, regardless of close results. El-Sayed had to overcome extraordinary 10-1 spending against him, as well as the entire Michigan and Washington Democratic establishment. It's something of a revolution, especially on Israel/Palestine in America.
Last I looked, NBC was sticking with its projection, but everyone else was still calling too close to call.
Shibley Telhami@stelhami.bsky.social · 10h agoExtraordinary win! Overcomes 10:1 spending and the entire establishment in Michigan and in Washington! On Israel/Palestine, it's revolutionary day.
Extraordinary win! Overcomes 10:1 spending and the entire establishment in Michigan and in Washington! On Israel/Palestine, it's revolutionary day.
NYT, 1:55 AM: "Our current best estimate is that El-Sayed is likely to win. El-Sayed leads in the reported vote and appears to be on track to maintain that lead after the remaining votes are counted. We’ll continue to adjust our estimates as more votes are reported."
NYT, 1:55 AM: "Our current best estimate is that El-Sayed is likely to win. El-Sayed leads in the reported vote and appears to be on track to maintain that lead after the remaining votes are counted. We’ll continue to adjust our estimates as more votes are reported."
It's still early in Michigan, but as Bernie Sanders reminds us, a Democratic Party revolution is taking place, with El-Sayed leading with 28% of votes counted: He's taking on the entire Democratic establishment in Michigan and DC - and is outspent 10-1. It's already stunning.
Understanding the mindset of violent Israeli settlers in the West Bank: A settler brags in interview that 'one Jewish life is worth 10 million Palestinians... because God chose us; because of this you are jealous' youtu.be/1CxfDyhEY58?...
Israeli Settler Brags: '1 Jewish Life Worth 10 Million Palestinians'
YouTube video by Breaking Points
youtu.be
Absolutely. It's the principled stance that many of us have been advocating for years - and our UMD polls have shown the American public has backed.
#StupidSuez@diplomatofnight.com · 22h agoAbdul El Sayed's open-mindedness on the question of how to actually resolve the question of Palestine is one of the best indicators of his overall intelligence and sincerity. Policymakers in DC should adopt a rights-based approach which prioritizes ending the occupation and apartheid systems.
Abdul El Sayed's open-mindedness on the question of how to actually resolve the question of Palestine is one of the best indicators of his overall intelligence and sincerity. Policymakers in DC should adopt a rights-based approach which prioritizes ending the occupation and apartheid systems.
Ron Skolnik@ronskolnik.bsky.social · 22h agoEl-Sayed: "I believe in equal rights to peace, dignity, and self-determination, for Palestinians and Jewish Israelis alike... If that’s 2 states, I’m for it. If it’s 1 state, I’m for that. If it’s this 'land for all' model, ... or whatever they decide." www.newyorker.com/news/the-new...
"He gave $5 million to MAGA Inc., a super PAC backed by Trump, in March 2025. (Lauder has gotten credit for giving Trump the idea to buy Greenland.) He donated another $1 million to a super PAC opposed to Zohran Mamdani’s mayoral campaign." 'Credit'! www.nytimes.com/2026/08/04/n...
Ronald Lauder, a Billionaire G.O.P. Backer, Closes His Wallet
Ronald S. Lauder, a major funder of conservative political causes, has not given a single dollar this year to Republicans in his home state, and his super PAC has gone idle.
nytimes.com
A garden moment away from screen: African Blue Basil and Hydrangeas
While AIPAC is centrally focussed on Israel, of the 109 TV and digital ads it funded in US elections between April 2022 and the end of last month, only 6 mentioned Israel - a clear recognition Israel is now a losing issue in American elections. www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
Inside the Spending of AIPAC, One of the U.S.'s Largest Super PACs
The lobbying group has more than doubled its spending on political campaigns, while rarely mentioning Israel. It has placed a large financial bet on today’s Michigan Senate primary.
nytimes.com
58% of Democrats and 36% of all Americans say the US owes Iran some reparations for war damage, while 42% of all Americans oppose reparations. What does this mean? Some thoughts: sadat.umd.edu/sites/sadat....
"The dramatic rundown in precision, long-range missiles means U.S. President Donald Trump may have to rely more on riskier, piloted bombing missions if he relaunches large-scale attacks on Iran."
Shibley Telhami@stelhami.bsky.social · yesterdayStunning: "US has used 'virtually all' of its long-range precision missiles" www.reuters.com/world/us-has...
Stunning: "US has used 'virtually all' of its long-range precision missiles" www.reuters.com/world/us-has...
EXCLUSIVE: US has used 'virtually all' of its long-range precision missiles during Iran war, sources say
The U.S. Army has used up much of its stockpile of highly accurate long-range missiles during its five-month war with Iran, according to three people familiar with the data, raising concerns about th...
reuters.com
"I have just returned from my first visit to the West Bank since 2023. What I saw then was deeply disturbing, but today the situation is far worse. It is now an emboldened and aggressive process of Israeli annexation of Palestinian land unfolding in plain sight." theelders.org/news/what-we...
What we saw in the West Bank: Palestine is disappearing
Mary Robinson reflects on her recent trip to the Middle East and the realities she witnessed in the West Bank
theelders.org
Visuals Suggest U.S. Dropped 2,000-Pound Bomb on Home in Iran, Killing 3. The weapon, one of the largest in the U.S.’s arsenal, struck a house in a heavily populated area, according to a Times analysis. www.nytimes.com/2026/07/31/w...
Visuals Suggest U.S. Dropped 2,000-Pound Bomb on Home in Iran, Killing 3
The weapon, one of the largest in the U.S.’s arsenal, struck a house in a heavily populated area, according to a Times analysis.
nytimes.com
Which of the following is closet to Americans' own values? 40% say 'Christian values', 33% say 'American Constitutional values', 21% say 'other values'; 6% say 'Judeo-Christian' values. How do these values correlate with public views of the Iran war? 1/2 sadat.umd.edu/sites/sadat....
Our latest UMD report, tracking the latest American public opinions on the Iran war and shedding light on how the public is responding to threats of military escalation - with analysis of how Americans' perceived core values impact attitudes. sadat.umd.edu/sites/sadat....
AIPAC "has become a bugbear for both the left and the right. For some it symbolizes the malign influence of special interest groups... Others see it as an apologist for a hardline Israeli government and a proxy for a foreign state with too much sway over US policy" www.ft.com/content/889c...
‘Voters have had it’: influence of pro-Israel lobby group sparks backlash in US
Aipac’s election spending goes from asset to potential liability across American primaries
ft.com
Our latest UMD report, tracking the latest American public opinions on the Iran war and shedding light on how the public is responding to threats of military escalation - with analysis of how Americans' perceived core values impact attitudes. sadat.umd.edu/sites/sadat....
Visuals Suggest U.S. Dropped 2,000-Pound Bomb on Home in Iran, Killing 3. The weapon, one of the largest in the U.S.’s arsenal, struck a house in a heavily populated area, according to a Times analysis. www.nytimes.com/2026/07/31/w...
Visuals Suggest U.S. Dropped 2,000-Pound Bomb on Home in Iran, Killing 3
The weapon, one of the largest in the U.S.’s arsenal, struck a house in a heavily populated area, according to a Times analysis.
nytimes.com
In joint statement, Türkiye, Egypt, Qatar condemn Israeli violations in Gaza, urge ceasefire compliance v.aa.com.tr/4017532
Türkiye, Egypt, Qatar condemn Israeli violations in Gaza, urge ceasefire compliance
Joint statement says attacks on healthcare facilities and resulting civilian casualties violate international law and threaten implementation of ceasefire's 2nd phase | Anadolu
v.aa.com.tr
On the Iran war, a huge difference between Jewish Americans and Israelis: Majority of Jewish Americans, 62%, including 72% of women and three quarters of those under 35, oppose the Iran war. jewishvoters.org/wp-content/u...
"For much of the past month, Iran fired missiles and drones day after day at Jordan. But for many Jordanians, the blame for putting their small country on the front lines falls on President Trump." www.wsj.com/world/middle... via @WSJ
Jordan Is Learning Its U.S. Alliance Has a Price in the Iran War
The kingdom has become a target for Tehran as the U.S. relies more on its desert bases.
wsj.com
"I have just returned from my first visit to the West Bank since 2023. What I saw then was deeply disturbing, but today the situation is far worse. It is now an emboldened and aggressive process of Israeli annexation of Palestinian land unfolding in plain sight." theelders.org/news/what-we...
What we saw in the West Bank: Palestine is disappearing
Mary Robinson reflects on her recent trip to the Middle East and the realities she witnessed in the West Bank
theelders.org
