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Israel’s UN ambassador Danny Danon is acting like it’s absurd for American voters to have gotten it into their heads that Israel had something to do with the Iran war that’s costing them so much money.

A salute to American human rights activist Kerry Kennedy, who has publicly rebuked her brother, U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr., following his claim that more than 500 million Arabs worldwide have failed to produce meaningful scientific or literary achievements.

Kerry described her brother's remarks as false, cruel, and insulting.

In a post on X, she wrote: "There was a time when I completely agreed with my brother; today, however, I feel deeply ashamed of him."

She recalled a 2016 statement by her brother warning against politicians exploiting bigotry, hatred, and xenophobia.

Kerry challenged his sweeping generalizations by highlighting the extraordinary contributions Arabs and Muslims have made to science, medicine, mathematics, and literature.

Among those she cited were scientist Omar Yaghi, recipient of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry; Egyptian scientist Ahmed Zewail, who won the 1999 Nobel Prize in Chemistry; and Egyptian novelist Naguib Mahfouz, awarded the 1988 Nobel Prize in Literature.

The results of the midterm elections were unmistakable: Republicans lost ground, and Democrats made significant gains. But it would be a mistake to interpret these results simply as a Democratic victory. The election sent a message in two directions. 

First, Republicans received a clear warning that their current political direction is increasingly out of step with voters. Policies associated with Trump, particularly on immigration, foreign policy and wars, have consequences at the ballot box. The results also demonstrate that gerrymandering, campaign spending, and the financial influence of corporate donors cannot guarantee electoral success. Political manipulation and financial power have their limits when voters decide to make their voices heard.

But the second message may be just as important: Democrats should not mistake Republican losses for an endorsement of their own political establishment.

Before Democrats slap themselves on the back too many times in the elation of the US midterms, it’s worth remembering that they didn’t do this on their own. Nothing should be taken for granted over the next two years, and certainly 2028 is still a crapshoot. The truth is that none of this would have been possible, especially at this level, without Trump’s help and the continual, self-inflicted damage he did to himself and his brand with the help of his unbridled sycophants.

Nate Cohen in the Times’ “Tilt”, did a good job at hitting the highlights of Trump’s self-harm:

Across Ohio and throughout the nation, millions of citizens continue to march, organize, and cast their ballots with a clear demand: end systemic police misconduct, safeguard our constitutional rights, and ensure every eligible voter has free, fair, and unhindered access to the ballot box. ​Yet, time and again, when historic federal legislation passes the U.S. House of Representatives with momentum and the people’s mandate, it collides with a structural roadblock in the upper chamber: the United States Senate filibuster. ​

To understand why critical civil rights reforms stall—and how constitutional battles over retiring judges and future Supreme Court appointments truly work—we must confront the procedural mechanics of the Senate and demand accountability from those who represent us. ​

Legislation Stalled: The 60-Vote Supermajority Problem ​

Two landmark pieces of federal legislation represent the cornerstone of modern civil rights and accountability: ​

The results of Israel's October 27 elections were welcomed by Palestinian Arab communities in Israel and millions of Palestinians worldwide.

Neither Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing bloc nor that of his rival, former military chief Gadi Eisenkot, secured the 61 seats required to form a government. This made the 19 seats won by Arab parties all the more consequential.

In a political system structured to marginalize its Arab minority, the electoral achievement of the Joint List and Ra'am cannot be overstated. Through their relative unity and an extraordinary convergence of political circumstances, Palestinian voters have seemingly managed to beat the system at its own game.

The achievement came despite fearmongering and outright racist rhetoric by mainstream Jewish political parties, including Eisenkot himself.

Wafaa Ahmed Al-Attar is a Palestinian girl from Deir al-Balah, in central Gaza, who became the sole survivor of her immediate family following an Israeli airstrike on February 22, 2024.

Despite losing her entire family, Wafaa refused to give up. By memorizing the entire Quran, she fulfilled the dream of her martyred father.

Her remarkable story was published on July 2, 2024, by We Are Not Numbers, under the title "The Inspiring Journey of Wafaa Ahmed Alattar." It was written by Nour Khalil Khattab, who personally met Wafaa and documented her journey.

The family members killed in the airstrike were:

• Father: Ahmed Al-Attar
• Mother: Khouloud Azam
• Sister: Rital
• Brothers: Muhammed, Obada, and Yazan (the youngest)

Wafaa survived because she had gone out to fetch a battery when the airstrike struck. She sustained minor injuries and subsequently lived with relatives, including her grandparents and uncle.