FMEP Legislative Round-Up January 9, 2026

Resource

1. Bills, Resolutions
2. Letters
3. Hearings & Markups
4. Selected Members on the Record
5. Selected Media & Press releases/Statements

New episodes of FMEP’s Occupied Thoughts Podcasts:

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1. Bills & Resolutions

None.

2. Letters

Re: letters covered in prior Round-Ups:

3. Hearings & Markups

None.

4. Selected Members on the Record

Recess travel

Gaza/West Bank

  • Van Hollen (D-MD) 12/31/25: X-post – “Another outrageous action. The Netanyahu govt is banning over 30 aid orgs — including CARE, Mercy Corps & Doctors Without Borders groups — from providing life-saving aid to people in Gaza.  Another betrayal of humanity. And, once again, the Trump Admin says and does nothing.” Linked to BBC article, Israel to bar 37 aid groups as UK and EU warn of severe impact in Gaza
  • Doggett (D-TX) 12/31/25: X-post – “With so many still being killed, Trump’s ceasefire in Gaza is not really a ceasefire. And Israel is exacerbating the health crisis by denying doctors entry into the enclave during a brutal winter. With only half of its hospitals partially functioning and the highest number of child amputees per capita worldwide, Gaza has certainly not received the peace Trump promised. This Christmas is a time of continued suffering”
  • Graham (R-SC) 12/29/25: X-post – “Under the ceasefire proposal, Hamas is supposed to fully disarm and relinquish power in Gaza. After my recent visit to Israel, it is clear to me they have failed to do both and are, in fact, rearming and consolidating power. It is time to put Hamas on the clock when it comes to disarming, fully understanding there can never be peace or stability in Gaza or the Middle East until Hamas has been dealt out of the game.“
  • Gottheimer (D-NJ) 12/29/25: X-post w/ video clip – “Gaza’s future must be free from Hamas terrorists, so that innocent Palestinians and Israelis can live in safety and build a better future. I remain committed to working with Israel and our allies to see this peace plan through. Hamas must lay down their weapons, return the last hostage, and give up governing control of Gaza.“
  • Greene (R-GA) 12/22/25: X-post- “The interest on our $38 trillion dollar national debt has now reached $1 trillion dollars but they are pitching a $112.1 billion dollar plan to rebuild Gaza with the U.S. supporting half of that in grants and debt guarantees. Of course after they clear 10,000+ dead bodies buried under 68 million tons of rubble. Why do Americans have to pay for this?“
  • Sanders (I-VT) 12/21/25: X-post – “It’s not just Gaza. Netanyahu’s extremist government is supporting the violent annexation of Palestinian land in the West Bank. This is illegal and immoral, and decades of American silence have enabled it. NO MORE MILITARY AID FOR NETANYAHU.” Linked to 12/20/25 New York Times article: Land Grab: Israel’s Escalating Campaign for Control of the West Bank
  • Gimenez (R-FL) 12/19/25: X-post “Everyone must hear the story of freed Hamas hostage Omer Shem Tov. 505 days in captivity. Nearly a year in solitary confinement. Little to no food or water. Thank you for giving Omer the platform to tell his story.“

Free Speech, Antisemitism, Mamdani, AIPAC, etc

  • Bacon (R-NE) 1/4/26: X-post – “These folks are full of antisemitism. Anyone who says Israel is secretly running our country is full of antisemitic lies and hate. AIPAC consists of Americans who support Israel, and many evangelical Christians, and I am one, are active members.“
  • Greene (R-GA) 1/2/26: X-post – “An Israeli cybersecurity billionaire demanding to take away Americans guaranteed First Amendment Free Speech and President Trump threatening war and sending in troops to Iran is everything we voted against in ‘24. Trump voters spent the week threatening a tax revolt because they are so furious about the never ending waste, fraud, and abuse of their hard earned money going to foreigners and foreign wars. The focus should be on tax dollars here at home and defending our God given freedoms and rights.“
  • Tenney (R-NY) 1/2/26: X-post – “On day one, Zohran Mamdani chose to revoke antisemitism safeguards put in place to protect Jewish New Yorkers. NYC is home to the largest Jewish population outside Israel. This is the new face of the Democrat Party.“
  • Lawler (R-NY) 1/1/26: X-post – “In one of his first acts as @NYCMayor, @ZohranKMamdani repeals an Executive Order that protects Jewish New Yorkers by appropriately defining antisemitism and ensuring NYC agencies and departments use it to combat Jew Hatred. Zohran just undid that with the stroke of a pen. Meanwhile @SenSchumer and @GovKathyHochul sat there ecstatic, celebrating the inauguration of a socialist, who openly embraces antisemites, refuses to condemn “globalize the intifada”, and wouldn’t call on Hamas to lay down its arms. Zohran is officially the face of the Democrat Party.“
  • Fine (R-FL) 12/29/25: X-post w/ video clip – “There is a growing problem of anti-Western sentiment within our party. People like to describe it as ‘anti-Israel’ but it is not. This sentiment is being pushed by podcasters who are paid by China and Qatar to destroy the West. We have to be willing to call it out.“
  • Fine (R-FL) 12/26/25: X-post w/video clip – “Jews were burned alive in Colorado, two Israeli Embassy staffers were killed, and most recently two National Guardsmen were shot in D.C. – all of these heinous acts were committed by Muslim terrorists THIS YEAR. To say you don’t know anyone in America in the last 24 years who has been killed by radical Islam is tone-deaf and shameful. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: Tucker Carlson is not MAGA.“
  • Kean (R-NJ) 12/26/25: X-post – “It is deeply troubling to see a course being offered at Princeton that falsely characterizes Israel’s right to self-defense as ‘genocide.’ Israel was the victim of a brutal terrorist attack on October 7th at the hands of Hamas, and any honest discussion must begin with that fact. Hamas is a terrorist organization that deliberately targets civilians and hides behind innocent people to advance its violent agenda. While I support freedom of speech and the offering of different perspectives in the classroom – words matter. Recklessly misusing the term ‘genocide’ does nothing to advance peace, justice, understanding, or open dialogue. Israel has both the right and the obligation to defend its people, and that reality should not be erased or rewritten in the classroom.“

Opposing More US Military Action Against Iran

  • Greene (R-GA) 1/2/26: X-post – “An Israeli cybersecurity billionaire demanding to take away Americans guaranteed First Amendment Free Speech and President Trump threatening war and sending in troops to Iran is everything we voted against in ‘24. Trump voters spent the week threatening a tax revolt because they are so furious about the never ending waste, fraud, and abuse of their hard earned money going to foreigners and foreign wars. The focus should be on tax dollars here at home and defending our God given freedoms and rights.“
  • Liccardo (D-CA) 1/5/26: X-post – “I support peaceful protests in Iran and the Iranian people’s fight for a democracy, but direct American military intervention will merely bolster support of Iranian people for the current regime.“
  • Massie (R-KY) 1/2/26: X-post – “1) We have problems at home and shouldn’t be wasting military resources on another country’s internal affairs. 2) Military strikes on Iran require Congressional authorization. 3) This threat isn’t about freedom of speech in Iran; it’s about the dollar, oil, and Israel.“

IRAN [incl: Congress Supports the Iranian People (insofar as they are advancing regime change). Also, YAY for another US war on Iran! Not incl: every mention of Iran as a rationalization for Trump’s taking over Venezuela)

  • Subramanyam (D-VA) 1/9/25: “For years, the people of Iran have been faced with human rights abuses and economic turmoil, leading to protests demanding change. As the current protests in Iran continue into a second week, I stand with the people of Iran and their aspirations for a more free, secular future.“
  • Malliotakis (R-NY) 1/9/26: X-post – “We stand with the brave people of Iran who are demanding regime change, self-determination and FREEDOM! May 2026 be the year that oppressive, human rights violating dictators fall across the globe. Let freedom ring!“
  • Diaz-Balart (R-FL) 1/8/26: X-post – “I stand with the people of #Iran who are bravely demanding freedom, dignity, and basic human rights. The people of Iran are risking everything to have their voices heard, and the world must not look away. Solidarity with the Iranian people—today and always.“
  • Bacon (R-NE) 1/8/26: X-post – “Free Iran”
  • Calvert (R-CA) 1/8/26: X-post – “The people of Iran are entitled to the same inalienable rights and liberties as all people. The United States stands with those rising up to demand a free and democratic future for Iran.” NOTE: “All people” does NOT include Palestinians…
  • Boyle (D-PA) 1/8/26: X-post – “I stand with the long oppressed people of Iran who are protesting for their freedom.”
  • Fallon (R-TX) 1/8/26: X-post – “Khamenei and his cronies would do best to leave Iran while they still can. The Iranian people have every right to a government free from the Ayatollah’s theocratic repression.“
  • Salazar (R-FL) 1/8/26: X-post – “The people of Iran are showing historic bravery, taking to the streets like never before demanding FREEDOM. Iran has been hijacked by extremists for too long. Sending my courage to those using their voices to demand liberty and hoping this will be the year for democracy in Iran!“
  • Knott (R-NC) 1/8/26: X-post – “The brave men and women of #Iran are courageously taking to the streets, showing that they will be heard regardless of their brutal regime’s orders. The current regime has been tyrannical, radical, and repressive for decades. The Iranian people have had enough.”
  • Gimenez (R-FL) 1/8/26: X-post – “God bless the brave people of #Iran on the streets demanding freedom & an end to the brutal regime!“
  • Sheehy (R-MT) 1/8/26: X-post – “What is happening in Iran is historic. An oppressive and evil regime is teetering. The world must pay attention. There are very serious geopolitical tectonic movements happening in multiple hemispheres right now. Historic times.”
  • Fallon (R-TX) 1/8/26: X-post – “A sign that a crackdown by the Ayatollah’s regime is imminent. The US stands with the people of Iran.“
  • Meng (D-NY) 1/8/26: X-post – “I stand with the people of Iran and will continue to support their right to peacefully protest the regime’s unjust policies.“
  • Fetterman (D-PA) 1/8/26: X-post – “We should all stand with those brave Iranian protesters. Leadership is so desperate, they’ve pulled the internet. We must build on the success America and Israel created that breaks Iran’s evil regime.“
  • Daines (R-MT) 1/8/26: X-post – “America stands with the people of Iran and against the tyrannical Iranian regime. The Iranian people deserve freedom and peace.“
  • Cruz (R-TX) 1/8/26: X-post w/ video – “WATCH: Iran lost the 12-day war—and President Trump utterly destroyed Iran’s nuclear facilities—and now the people of Iran are rising up against the Ayatollah. If the people of Iran overthrow the America-hating Islamist mullahs, it would be a massive national security victory. And the American people would be much, much safer.“
  • House Foreign Affairs Committee (GOP) 1/8/26: X-post – “Ayatollah is losing his grip on the Iranian people. Iranians are defying its regime at an unprecedented scale.“
  • Ansari (D-AZ) 1/8/26: X-post – “After nearly five decades of repression under the murderous Islamic Republic regime, the Iranian people deserve freedom. But I want to be clear: sustainable freedom must come from the Iranian people themselves. And the MEK is a cult—not a legitimate opposition in waiting. I’ve seen firsthand the influence the MEK has in Washington, and it is deeply disturbing. The MEK is a violent cult that was previously designated as a terrorist organization by the United States. Across generations and political viewpoints, the overwhelming majority of Iranian—inside Iran, throughout the diaspora, and across the ideological spectrum—despise the MEK. That opposition is rooted in history: the MEK openly sided with Saddam Hussein during the Iran-Iraq War, a betrayal that cost countless Iranian lives and remains one of the rare issues that truly unites Iranians. There is currently a congressional resolution, with significant bipartisan support, that expresses solidarity with the Iranian people and their struggle for human rights and freedom. On its face, that goal is important and necessary. But the resolution goes further—explicitly endorsing Maryam Rajavi, the leader of the MEK. That endorsement is why I have refused to sign onto this resolution, and why I have urged my Democratic colleagues to do the same. Supporting the Iranian people must never mean elevating a fringe, authoritarian group that lacks legitimacy among Iranians themselves. The Iranian people are courageously risking their lives in the streets, demanding dignity, democracy, and an end to tyranny. Their fight is for real self-determination—not the replacement of one authoritarian regime with another imposed from the outside. I stand unequivocally with the Iranian people in their pursuit of genuine democracy, human rights, and a future defined by freedom and opportunity.”
  • Scholten (D-MI) 1/7/26: X-post – “@USCG just intercepted a Russian vessel linked to Hezbollah’s illicit financing network. Outstanding work. Don’t mess with our coasties!“
  • Cortez Mastro (D-NV) 1/7/26: X-post – “In the face of an oppressive regime, protestors in Iran are standing up for change and an end to the tyranny of their government.   I am hopeful for a brighter future for the people of Iran because of their courage.”
  • Salazar (R-FL) 1/7/26: X-post – “In 9 days, the Radical Islamic Regime has arrested over 1,200 people, killed at least 29 and injured at least 64. In 257 locations across 88 cities and 27 provinces, the people of Iran are demanding freedom from the Ayatollah and as usual, the regime silences, tortures and imprisons.   Like those resisting tyranny in Cuba and Venezuela, they are fighting for the freedom, liberty, and end to oppression they deserve.“
  • Levin (D-CA) 1/7/26: X-post – “Across Iran, people are protesting a regime that has failed them economically, politically, and morally. Iranians have the right to peacefully protest, to speak freely, and to demand a government that serves the needs of its people. Yet the regime continues to prioritize missiles, proxy warfare, and regional destabilization over the welfare of its own population, leaving Iranian families to pay the price in the form of runaway inflation, shrinking employment, food insecurity, and lost economic opportunities.“
  • Self (R-TX) 1/7/26: X-post – “The days of the theocratic rulers of Iran are numbered. As protesters fill the streets, the Ayatollah would be wise to read the writing on the wall and realize that the time for change has come. The Iranian people are more determined than ever to overthrow the regime and this time, the people have the upper hand. I believe this time the people are willing to make the sacrifice that will lead to a more free society.”
  • Stutzman (R-IN) 1/6/26: X-post – “Cheering for the Iranian people. This is a tremendous first step! FREE IRAN“
  • Wilson (R-SC) 1/6/26: X-post – “A few days ago, Iraq’s newly elected members of parliament were sworn in during the first parliamentary session. This moment should have marked a new beginning and renewed hope for the Iraqi people. Instead, that hope was seized by the malign influence of Iran that installed puppets and individuals linked to extremist and terrorist networks at the helm of what should be a national institution. Parliament, meant to serve as the beacon of democracy and the true voice of all Iraqis, has instead been distorted into a tool advancing Iran’s destructive agenda. This development is deeply alarming and raises serious concerns about Iraq’s future and direction. It is obvious that the main figure behind this outcome is the corrupt, Iran-aligned judge Faiq Zaidan. In most countries in the world, the head of the judiciary acts an independent arbiter of disputes implementing the rule of law. Yet in Iraq, Fayiq Zaidan, the Head of the Supreme Judicial Council, is not only a puppet of Iran, but has in many ways declared himself the de facto leader and political power broker of Iraq. Zaidan now is seen daily meeting with political party and terrorist militia leaders actively negotiating government formation, even more brazenly than in the past where Zaidan used his perch to cleverly and slyly overturn elections on behalf of Iran when the outcome wasn’t of his liking. In addition, Zaidan makes public policy pronouncements dealing with security and political issues, trying to bamboozle the United States with a FAKE disarming of Iranian puppet militias, to help ensure Iran maintains its control of Iraq. By openly violating the separation of powers and following Tehran’s directives, Zaidan’s unchecked influence continues to erode Iraq’s sovereignty, weaken its democratic institutions, and override the will of the Iraqi people. Zaidan and his backers in Iran are actively working to entrench their control over Iraq and install a weak and compliant prime minister. This outcome is unacceptable and poses a serious threat to Iraq’s future and U.S. interests. The United States has sacrificed thousands of lives to help Iraq break free from tyranny and will not accept the rise of a new authoritarian order disguised as justice. The Iraqi people will not forgive this betrayal, nor will they accept it. The Trump administration has the authority to impose sanctions on anyone who destabilizes Iraq on behalf of Iran pursuant to Executive Order 13303 and a determination should be made regarding whether Zaidan meets the criteria for these sanctions. In addition, will work with my colleagues in Congress to seek accountability including through working with the Trump administration on moving possible legislation to sanction Zaidan and affiliated militia leaders.“
  • House Foreign Affairs Committee (GOP) 1/6/26: X-post – “Anti-regime protestors are rising up and claiming entire cities. Iranians have had enough of the tyrannical Ayatollah and his murderous mullahs. The Iranian regime’s grip is unraveling.“
  • Fetterman (D-PA) 1/6/26: X-post – “This is a testament to how our nation and Israel broke Iran.” With gif of headline from FoxNews 1/5/26 article: Iran offers citizens $7 monthly payments as protests spiral over economic crisis: report
  • Bacon (R-NE) 1/4/26: X-post – “Intelligence analysis said Soleimani’s Shia militias in Iraq, funded and trained by Iran, killed 609 Americans servicemen and women. I am glad America gave him justice. He was an enemy of America.” [January 3 is the anniversary of the assassination of Soleimani by the U.S.)
  • Baumgartner (R-WA) 1/3/25: X-post – “Decimating Iran’s nuclear program. Forcing Hamas to release the hostages. Removing Maduro – President Trump and his National security team continue to run a masteclass [sic] in historic foreign policy leadership.“
  • Cornyn (R-TX) 1/3/26: X-post – “There have been false dawns of protest before, but Iran’s regime is vulnerable. As the protest waves build, they expose the regime’s dependence on fear and violence.”
  • Cornyn (R-TX) 1/3/26: X-post – “Iran’s economic problems—which have led to protests in recent days—stem largely from its refusal to abandon its nuclear program…“
  • Cornyn (R-TX) 1/3/26: X-post – “It’s worth noting that the strike that killed Iranian Major General Qassem Soleimani in Iraq, one of Trump’s major escalations against Iran in his first term, was on Jan. 3, 2020. @playbookdc“
  • Cornyn (R-TX) 1/2/26: X-post – “As 2026 dawns, the Iranian public are marching in protest against the regime only months after the Israel-U.S. attack...”
  • Van Hollen (D-MD) 1/2/26: X-post – “Free speech and the right to peacefully protest are universal rights. The Iranian government’s crackdown on these protestors is unacceptable — they must allow Iranians to use their voices without fear of violence.“
  • Kim (R-CA) 1/2/26: X-post – “Brave Iranians are crying out against tyranny & for freedom. The United States stands with them. The Iranian regime cannot continue to silence their voices with violence & oppression. The Iranian people deserve the right to decide their own future.“
  • Gottheimer (D-NJ) 1/2/26: X-post – “The Iranian people are fed up with their government and they’re standing up for change.  I commend their courage in the face of the regime’s tyranny, terror, and oppression.”
  • Gimenez (R-FL) 1/2/26: X-post – “Freedom for the brave men & women of #Iran! The evil dictatorship must be relegated to the ash heap of history!“
  • Weber (R-TX) 1/2/26: X-post – “I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: A free, non-nuclear Iran, built by its people, is good for Iran and good for the world. History will remember as these events unfold.“
  • Fallon (R-TX) 1/2/26: X-post – “The barbaric Mullahs who rule Iran have never had the Iranian people’s best interest at heart and have shown they’ll do anything to retain power. I strongly support the Persian Tiger that is rising and taking to the streets in the strongest attempt to date to free themselves.”
  • Bacon (R-NE) 1/2/26: X-post – “This is when we need a strong Voice of America beaming information into Iran. Some in the Administration underestimate the value that VOA brings, but now it is an important tool for the President and our national security team. Information is an instrument of power.“
  • Calvert (R-CA) 1/1/26: X-post – “We stand with the protestors in Iran as they push for the same unalienable rights and liberties that all people are entitled to.“
  • Fallon (R-TX) 12/31/25: X-post – “The successful US strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities this past June sent a message that America will not tolerate rogue states that want to sow chaos and instability. President Trump is restoring much needed deterrence.“
  • Mace (R-SC) 12/31/25: X-post – “To the beautiful people of Iran, your courage is louder than the t*rrorism, tyranny and fear. The world sees you, the world stands with you and we believe in you. Freedom will prevail.“
  • Ricketts (R-NE) 12/31/25: X-post – “We must continue to ratchet up pressure on the ayatollah and his band of thugs, while supporting the brave Iranian people who risk their lives in their pursuit of freedom. The Islamic Republic of Iran is a corrupt, terrorist regime that brutally represses and murders its own people. It is clearly willing to sacrifice the livelihood of every single Iranian just to stay in power.”
  • McClintock (R-CA) 12/31/25: X-post – “The people of Iran have been tortured for far too long. Freedom and justice walk hand in hand. Freedom for the Iranian people means justice for the Iranian dictators and Iran’s day of deliverance is fast approaching.”
  • Boyle (D-PA) 12/30/25: X-post – “Inspiring to see so many brave people in Iran protesting their brutal regime.“
  • Scott (R-SC) 12/30/25: X-post – “Preventing a nuclear Iran is essential to U.S. security and global stability. I supported @POTUS’ strikes this year and introduced the Solidify Iran Sanctions Act because the #1 state sponsor of terrorism must never be allowed to threaten the world with a nuclear weapon.“
  • Wilson (R-SC) 12/30/25: X-post – “I support the protesters in Iran who promote appreciation of their great Persian heritage. Syria is a symbol that a 54 year dictatorship can flee to Moscow.”
  • Stutzman (R-IN) 12/30/25: X-post – “Stand with the people of Iran! Time to end the Ayatollah’s reign and let religious freedom take over the country!“
  • Sherman (D-CA) 12/29/25: X-post – “Once again, the people of Iran are taking to the streets to protest a brutal regime that has bled Iran’s resources and people dry to wage never-ending proxy wars throughout the region. Today and always, I stand with the Iranian people as they demand democracy and a government that is accountable to the people of Iran.“
  • Wicker (R-MS) 12/29/25: X-post – “Iranians are taking to the streets today in response to the economic ruin that Iran’s terrorist-supporting leadership has brought upon the country.  I support their struggle for sane leadership that puts their interest first, not the interests of Islamist terrorists. Iranians should be free of the despotism that devastated a once thriving society.“
  • Fetterman (D-PA) 12/29/25: X-post – “Iran can’t ever develop a nuclear weapon. Fully supported the strike earlier this year. Fully support any future strikes to damage or destroy their nuclear ambitions.“
  • Cornyn (R-TX) 12/29/25: X-post – “Iran in ‘full-scale war’ with US and Europe, says president” [linked to article in the Independent]
  • Bacon (R-NE) 12/28/25: X-post – “It’s hard to reconcile a President who has been great on Iran but so blind and bad on Putin’s Russia.”

Well done Israel for recognizing Somaliland!

  • Cruz (R-TX) 1/5/26: X-post – “Recognizing Somaliland isn’t charity — it’s strategy. It aligns with America’s security interests and the ‘America First’ doctrine by strengthening an ally that shares our values in a region vital to global trade and counterterrorism.”
  • Cornyn (R-TX) 12/29/25: X-post – “Israel Becomes the First Nation to Recognize Somaliland” [linked to New York Times article]

Syria

Congress Stands with Israel, Bibi, AIPAC, etc.

  • Sherman (D-CA) 1/7/26: X-post – “Today, I joined @HouseForeignleadership in meeting with Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister @FaisalbinFarhan. I stressed the United States’ deep desire to see normalization between Saudi Arabia and Israel, and a resolution of recent tensions with the UAE.“
  • Shweikert (R-AZ) 1/7/26: X-post – “Saturday evening, Rabbi Kahn was kind to present this piece of art as a thank you to our team. This summer, when the war broke out, our staff helped bring home young people who were in Israel on Birthright. Thank you to Congregation Beth Israel.”
  • Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu X-post 1/5/26 w/ pix: “Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met this evening, at the Prime Minister’s Office in Jerusalem, with US Representative Josh Gottheimer @RepJoshG.“
  • ShadowofEzra on X, with video clip of Sen. Moreno (R-OH) 1/2/26: “Ohio Senator Bernie Moreno thanks an audience at a Miami synagogue, with Benjamin Netanyahu in attendance, for saving Christianity from being wiped off the planet. Moreno says all Christians in America share his view that Israel has saved Christianity. Bernie Moreno is funded and owned by AIPAC.“
  • Daines (R-MT) 12/30/25: X-post – “America stands with Israel.“
  • Sheehy (R-MT) 12/29/25: X-post – “President Trump today made clear, once again, America stands unequivocally with Israel and the Jewish people.“
  • Bilirakis (R-FL) 12/24/25: X-post – “Great discussions as we continue strengthening the strategic partnership between the United States, Greece, and Israel. During high-level meetings in Washington, we explored opportunities for American investment in Greek healthcare, expanded collaboration in medical innovation, and deeper trilateral cooperation that benefits all our nations. Partnerships like these help create jobs, advance research, and promote shared security and prosperity across the Eastern Mediterranean and beyond. I look forward to building on this momentum and continuing meaningful progress.“
  • Mace (R-NC) 12/21/25: X-post – “We spoke at the Israel Allies Foundation Caucus Conference in Washington, D.C., to show our support for Israel and the Jewish community. United by something deeper than politics, we are bound by faith and an unshakable belief that Israel has a God-given right to exist, to defend itself, and to thrive. Today, families in Israel are one step closer to peace, thanks to President Trump’s unwavering commitment to stability in the Middle East. God bless America, God bless Israel, and God bless the peacemakers.“
  • Calvert (R-CA) 12/20/25: X-post – “Israel and the U.S. are united in eliminating the ISIS threat in the Middle East.“

Other stuff

5. Selected Media

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – GENERAL

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – HOYER RETIRMENT ANNOUNCEMENT

  • Jewish Insider 1/9/26: Rep. Hoyer’s retirement deprives Dems of leading pro-Israel stalwart [“Rep. Ritchie Torres: ‘Hopefully you’ll have a Democratic Party with enough successors to sustain and strengthen the U.S.-Israel relationship’“]
  • Jewish Telegraphic Agency 1/8/26: Longtime pro-Israel Democrat Steny Hoyer announces retirement from Congress [“Harry Jarin, who launched his bid for Hoyer’s seat in May, criticized the lawmaker for visiting to Israel.“]
  • Democratic Majority for Israel (DMFI) 1/8/26: Statement on Steny Hoyer’s announcement from DMFI’s CEO [“…He has also been a true and steadfast friend of Israel. I helped him lead 12 congressional delegations there, ensuring that members of Congress learned not just about the important strategic relationship between the United States and Israel but also about the miracle of Israel’s very existence. Those trips were powerful and transformative experiences for us. He worked relentlessly to ensure Israel had the resources it needed to defend itself by itself and fought back against attempts to undermine the U.S.-Israel relationship. Our country, the Democratic Party, and the pro-Israel movement are all in a better place today because of his service…“
  • Baltimore Jewish Times 1/8/26: Rep. Steny Hoyer, Longtime Pro-Israel Democrat, Announces Retirement
  • Haaretz 1/8/26: Veteran pro-Israel Democrat Steny Hoyer to Retire After Decades in Congress [“Rep. Steny Hoyer of Maryland, the longest-serving Democrat in Congress, is the latest senior official stepping down as party members are increasingly critical of Israel’s policies. Hoyer would routinely appear at AIPAC conferences to announce pro-Israel legislation“]
  • New York Times 1/7/26: Steny Hoyer, Longest-Serving House Democrat, to Retire From Congress [“…he has long acted as the unofficial leader of the annual junket that first-term lawmakers take with AIPAC, the hard-line pro-Israel lobbying organization, to visit Israel. ‘What we found is that contrary to world opinion, Israel has been doing everything it possibly can to ensure that there’s minimal damage to civilians who are not part of Hamas’s army,’ Mr. Hoyer said in a video he recorded for AIPAC during the trip last August. That message was viewed as out of step with a realignment underway in Congress on Israel, in which Democratic lawmakers have turned away from a decades-old bipartisan consensus on Capitol Hill around offering unconditional support for the Jewish state.“]

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – MASSACHUSETTS

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – ILLINOIS

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – TEXAS

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – KENTUCKY

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – ILLINOIS

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – MARYLAND

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – NEW YORK

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – NEW HAMPSHIRE

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – CALIFORNIA

  • San Francisco Standard 1/8/26: Life after Pelosi: SF House candidates square off for 1st time [“…Hot-button issue: Israel – Wiener drew the night’s heaviest jeers when he declined to answer a yes-or-no lightning-round question that asked if Israel is committing genocide in Gaza. His opponents both held aloft signs reading ‘Yes,’ while Wiener rested his sign in his lap. Audience members shouted ‘Shame on you,’ ‘Sellout,’ and ‘Free Palestine.’ In an interview with reporters afterward, Wiener lamented that there wasn’t time during the forum to describe his position on a complex international conflict. ‘Hamas should not be running Gaza,’ Wiener added, but the Israeli government’s killing of tens of thousands of Palestinians, including children, ‘is an absolute moral stain and horrifying to me.’ When asked why he declined to label it genocide, Wiener said, ‘People can label it whatever noun or adjective they want to put on it.‘”]
  • Mission Local 1/8/26: S.F. congressional candidates vying for Pelosi’s seat stake out contrasts in first debate [“…The most raucous moment of the two-hour debate came in the closing lightning round, when the candidates were asked: ‘Is Israel committing genocide in Gaza?’ Chakrabarti and Chan immediately flashed up the green ‘YES’ on their double-sided signs. But Wiener didn’t give a straight answer, twirling the sign near his knees, the red ‘NO’ and green ‘YES’ coming in and out of view. The crowd laughed and jeered. ‘Answer the question Scott!’ ‘Shame on you! Shame on you!’ Several waved keffiyahs from their seats. Regardless, whoever San Francisco sends to Congress will likely be voting against selling offensive weapons to Israel. In a press gaggle after the debate, Wiener said that he finds Israel’s actions in both Gaza and the West Bank ‘horrifying.’ ‘What the Israeli government has done in Gaza in terms of killing tens of thousands of Palestinians and so many children … is an absolute moral stain,’ he said. ‘I will not support U.S. funding for the destruction of Palestinian communities in Gaza or the West Bank. Period.'”]
  • 48 Hills 1/8/26: What we can take away from the first Congressional candidate debate [“The defining social media moment of the Wednesday night Congressional forum was a photo of State Sen. Scott Wiener refusing to take a position on whether Israel is committing genocide in Gaza.“]
  • Axios 1/7/26: Nancy Pelosi’s seat is San Francisco’s ultimate political prize [“The fault lines emerged in a rapid-fire yes-or-no segment when Chan and Chakrabarti raised ‘Yes’ signs in response to a question about Israel’s actions in Gaza being labeled as ‘genocide.’ Wiener — who is Jewish — hesitated to answer, prompting audible opposition from the crowd. Wiener later told reporters the format flattened a complex issue. He maintained he doesn’t ‘support U.S. funding for the destruction of Palestinian communities’ or Israel’s escalation of violence.“]

Gaza & Lebanon

Syria

Saudi Arabia/Gulf

Iran

Weaponization of Fight Against Antisemitism v. Actually Fighting Antisemtism

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