In recent weeks, we have referenced Gavin Newsom, the California Governor and presidential hopeful, who had seemingly modified his public position on Israel amid the war on Iran.
During an interview, Newsom said Israel was an apartheid state and floated the idea of conditioning military aid to the country. However, in a new interview with Politico, Newsom said he regrets using the word “apartheid” and insists he was only referring to a possible future where Israel emerges as an apartheid state.
Newsom told the website that he was simply referring to a New York Times Op-Ed by Thomas Friedman, a columnist for the paper, where he said that Benjamin Netanyahu’s success in possible upcoming Israeli elections would “be a major propellant to his efforts to annex the West Bank, cripple the Israeli Supreme Court and make Israel an apartheid state.”
Newsom’s latest about-face comes amid even more polling showing that support for Israel has all but entirely cratered among Americans.
An NBC News poll shows that just 32% of registered voters view Israel in a positive way. 13% of Democrats view the country positively, and nearly 60% of them view it negatively. A recent Gallup poll also showed that, for the first time in 25 years, a majority of Americans sympathize with Palestinians more than Israelis.
The reality is that a politician like Newsom finds himself between a rock and hard place when it comes to Israel. It’s obvious that he will readily shift his position on any given issue if it results in him becoming President, but what’s the appropriate move for such an opportunist?
On one hand, he certainly doesn’t want to lose support from Democratic, pro-Israel mega-donors like Haim Saban and he runs the risk of attacks from advocacy groups if he criticizes the country too much. This goes beyond groups like AIPAC, as we have already seen his previous comments criticized by groups like the ADL.
However, the polling is the polling. It’s not just the Democratic base that’s flipped on this issue, it’s swing voters and independents too. Precisely the kind of people that Newsom would want appeal to via a presidential campaign.
Additionally, a public debate has broken out about AIPAC’s role in the U.S. electoral system, what it means, and how such groups present a potential liability for Democrats running for office.
Finally, we have the example of Kamala Harris. It’s probably not accurate to say that the Gaza genocide was the only reason she lost the election to Donald Trump, but no one can deny that her inability to separate herself from Biden on the issue factored into the loss.
The reality is that the Democrats limped into the race, having completely alienated and discarded the left-flank of their base. You’d think Newsom would be aware of this.
Having said all that, it seems that Newsom is picking his lane. He didn’t just say that Israel isn’t an apartheid state.
He also said this: “I revere the state of Israel. I’m proud to support the state of Israel.”
A truly incredible and tone deaf declaration amid the time of genocide.
Iran War Powers resolution shot down again
This week, Senate Democrats made another attempt to reel in Trump’s war.
The War Powers resolution, which was introduced by Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) was intended to stop Trump from using further force in Iran without congressional approval.
The effort came just days after a previous push, and resulted in an identical vote: 53-47.
It’s the third Iran resolution to be rejected by the upper chamber.
Once again Rand Paul (R-KY) was only Republican to break with his party, while the rabidly pro-Israel John Fetterman (D-PA) dutifully joined the GOP’s vote.
“Only Congress can declare war,” said Paul after the first vote. “That’s not my opinion. That’s Article 1 of the Constitution. We forced the vote. The Senate said ‘no.’ History will not be kind to a Congress that gave away its most solemn responsibility.”
“It’s our only opportunity to debate the war, which is tragic,” Senator Murphy told reporters before the most recent vote. “And we need to continue to put Republicans on record. This war is not getting more popular as time goes on.”
He’s certainly right about that. However, as he alludes to, the vast majority of GOP lawmakers remain in lockstep with the Trump administration on the issue.
Stephen Starr has an interesting piece in The Guardian wondering whether the war on Iran will raise problems for Republicans in Midwest swing states.
“I am hoping to see the gas prices go back to a lower level as yes, the electorate votes by what is affecting them at the time they cast their ballots,” Barbara VanSyckel, vice-chair of the Republican party in Michigan’s Macomb county told Starr.
“The November elections are still months away, but if the gas prices stay high, it will likely affect voting for Republicans, which would affect the midterms and thus Trump’s agenda,” she added.
“We are going to bleed support,” former Trump official and right-wing pundit Steve Bannon recently warned his listeners.
Odds & Ends
🇮🇱 The U.S. and Israel’s diverging interests will prolong the war, but Iran will determine its outcome
📺 The U.S. media is ignoring Israel’s efforts to torpedo Trump’s talks with Iran
🧊 Anti-ICE protesters convicted on terrorism charges in a possible sign of things to come
🇮🇷 Electronic Intifada: The war on Iran is making it stronger
🪖 Responsible Statecraft: Veterans warn US landing could be ‘more Gallipoli than Vietnam’
💰 Counterpunch: $200 Billion for Trump’s Iran “Excursion” is Real Money
▶️ NBC News: Trump gets Iran war briefings through strike video montages, U.S. officials say
⚡ The Nation: How the War Has Led to the Largest Disruption of Energy Supplies in Decades
🇵🇸 Jewish Currents: The Iran War Is About Palestine
📰 Drop Site: Iran Blasts Trump’s Claims of Direct Talks as “Fake News” Aimed at Manipulating Markets
🚨 Zeteo: US Troops Are Being Told to ‘Get Ready’ to Invade Iran
🤝🏼 Common Dreams: Rejecting Trump Plan, Iran Calls for War Reparations in Ceasefire Counterproposal
Newsom’s tone-deaf comments show that the billionaire class controls an increasingly corrupt political system in the Republican and Deomcratic Parties.
The fact that the handfull of wealthiest Americans would continue to support the most corrupt person to ever serve as the US President shows how money and power are the only things valued by America’s billionaire club.
Democracy, justice and moral character are meaningless to these American oligarchs. They and this President see personal wealth as the only measure of success.
“Put not thy faith in princes” See: The Bible…Machiavelli, et. al.
To “revere” Israel is, to my mind, evidence of at least the willingness to genuflect to political Zionism as well as to be gaslit and potentially much worse.
I can imagine a mass of young Americans now saying:
“OK, fine Gavin you have your opinion. FYI it is our opinion that, if elected President in 2028 you would behave exactly as another Democratic officeholder, Genocide Joe Biden, who proudly, repeatedly and publicly declared, “I am a Zionist” and proved it by enabling the Israel you revere so much to launch and continue the genocide of Gaza. Your reverence is misplaced and will be weaponized by machine Zionism when necessary. In revealing just how vassalized you are you have lost, at least, the young voters who will decide the future of the Democratic Party. Way to go!
I wish I could have been a fly on the wall in the room where you surrendered your principles, your dignity and your credibility. What were you promised in return?
View here 280 new Palestine solidarity posters
Interview in Haaretz with Arielle Angel, editor-in-chief of Jewish Currents:
https://mondoweiss.net/2026/03/the-shift-newsom-flipflops-on-israeli-apartheid-comments/#comments