FMEP Legislative Round-Up March 20, 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

(DISAPPROVAL OF US ARMS SALES TO ISRAEL): on 3/19/26, Sanders (I-VT) and 3 Democratic cosponsors – Van Hollen (D-MD), Merkley (D-OR) and Welch (D-VT) – introduced 3 resolutions disapproving of arms sales to Israel, all of which were referred to the Foreign Relations Committee:

  • S. J. Res. 136: A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval of the proposed licensing of certain defense articles and services to Israel.
  • S. J. Res. 137: A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval of the proposed foreign military sale to the Government of Israel of certain defense articles and services.
  • S. J. Res. 138: A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval of the proposed foreign military sale to the Government of Israel of certain defense articles and services.

Also see:

(REMOVE US FORCES FROM UNAUTHORIZED WAR WITH IRAN) S. J. Res. 118: Introduced 3/5/26 by Booker (D-NJ) and 5 Democratic cosponsors, “A joint resolution to direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities within or against the Islamic Republic of Iran that have not been authorized by Congress.” On 3/18/26, a motion to discharge S. J. Res. 118 from the Committee on Foreign Relations (to bring it to the floor for consideration – a procedural vote that in this case can be viewed as a vote on the underlying resolution) was defeated by a vote of 47-53, with all Republicans except for Paul (R-KY) voting “no,” and all Democrats except for Fetterman (D-PA) voting “yes.”

(IRAN SANCTIONS) HR 1422: Introduced 2/18/25 by Lawler (R-NY) and having 295 cosponsors, “To impose sanctions with respect to persons engaged in significant transactions related or incidental to the processing, refining, export, transfer or sale of oil, condensates, or other petroleum or petrochemical products in whole or in part from the Islamic Republic of Iran.” Brought to the House floor 3/16/26 under suspension of the rules and passed by a Voice Vote. Also see: AIPAC 3/16/26 X-post – “AIPAC applauds the House of Representatives for passing the bipartisan Enhanced Iran Sanctions Act (H.R. 1422) with broad support. As American servicemembers courageously operate alongside our ally Israel to confront the Iranian regime, Congress is making clear that we must toughen our economic tools against Iran and China’s purchases of Iranian oil. We thank @RepMikeLawler (R-NY) and @CongresswomanSC (D-FL) for leading this bipartisan effort and the 296 total House members who cosponsored the legislation. The House passing this bill reflects overwhelming bipartisan resolve to cut off the financial lifelines that fuel Iran’s aggression against American servicemembers, our allies, and U.S. interests. We urge the Senate to take up and pass this legislation as quickly as possible to ensure the United States maintains every available economic tool to counter the Iranian regime.”

(BANNING BETTING ON WAR/DEATHS/ETC) HR 7942 // S. 4035 [bill text]: Introduced in the House 3/16/26 by Levin (D-CA), and in the Senate 3/10/26 by Schiff (D-CA), “A bill to amend the Commodity Exchange Act to prohibit the listing of contracts relating to war, death, and similar activities.” Also see: Schiff press release – Sen. Schiff Introduces Legislation to Explicitly Ban Death and War Prediction Contracts

(BANNING PREDICTION MARKET BETTING ON WAR/ASSASSINATIONS ETC) HR 7955 // S. 4115 [bill text]: Introduced 3/17/26 in the House by Casar (D-TX) and 3 Democratic cosponsors, and in the Senate by Murphy (D-CT) and Hickenlooper (D-CO), the “‘Banning Event Trading on Sensitive Operations and Federal Functions Act” aka the “BETS OFF Act,” aka, “To prohibit any person from placing, accepting, or facilitating the placement or acceptance of a wager regarding a specified event, and for other purposes.” Referred to the House Committees on the Judiciary, Agriculture, and Financial Services; and to the Senate Committee on the Judiciary. Also see:

  • Casar (D-TX) 3/17/26: X-post w/ video clip – “A single secret account made $500,000 off of betting precisely right when Trump would go to war with Iran. We have a corruption crisis in America, and new prediction markets are making it worse. Today, @ChrisMurphyCT and I introduced a bill to crack down on this corruption.”
  • Murphy (D-CT) 3/17/26: X-post – “The day before the Iran War, a flurry of big prediction market bets were placed – likely from Trump staff – that the war would start the next day. That’s outrageous, and today @RepCasar and I introduced legislation to ban these corrupt prediction markets.“
  • Murphy (D-CT) 3/16/26: X-post – “We need to end prediction markets for government action. NOW. This bone chilling story about a reporter’s life threatened bc he simply reported on Iran missile strikes: ‘After you make us lose $900,000 we will invest no less than that to finish you.‘” Commenting on Times of Israel article, Gamblers trying to win a bet on Polymarket are vowing to kill me if I don’t rewrite an Iran missile story [“Bettors are using death threats to try to get The Times of Israel’s military correspondent to change his report on a missile impact in central Israel. This is his alarming account“]

(STRIPPING US CITIZENSHIP FROM ANYONE FOR ALLEGED SUPPORT FOR AN FTO) HR 7958: Introduced 3/17/26 by Harrigan (R-NC), “To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to deem specified activities in support of terrorism as renunciation of United States nationality,” aka the “Expatriate Terrorist Act.”  Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary. NOTE: 

  • On 3/13/26 Cruz (R-TX) posted on X: “Yesterday’s terrorist attacks in Virginia and Michigan were both committed by Islamist radicals who were naturalized citizens. Terrorists and their supporters have no place in the United States, and denaturalizing and deporting them will save lives. Next week I’ll introduce a modernized version of my Expatriate Terrorist Act from 2017. I began pushing this policy during my first term in the Senate. It will enable the U.S. government to revoke the citizenship of foreigners who’ve committed or support terrorism.”  The referenced bill is S. 361, introduced by Cruz on 2/13/17. On 3/13/26, Harrigan (R-NC) re-posted Cruz’s post, adding: “I’m leading this charge in the House and I’m proud to be working alongside SenTedCruz to get it done. When you come to this country, earn citizenship, and then turn around and commit or support terrorism against the very people who welcomed you, you have forfeited your right to be here.”
  • Back in 2014, when this bill was first introduced (S. 2779), the ACLU laid out its objections —  Specifically, the ACLU noted: “The bill would strip U.S. citizenship from Americans who have not been convicted of any crimes, but who are suspected of being involved with designated foreign terrorist organization.  S. 2779 is dangerous because it would attempt to dilute the rights and privileges of citizenship, one of the core principles of the Constitution.” The ACLU continues: “…the bill would treat suspected provision of material assistance as an act that affirmatively renounces one’s American citizenship. Thus, unlike treason or conspiracy to overthrow the U.S. government, this provision would not require a prior conviction. It would only require an administrative finding by an unspecified government official that an American is suspected of providing material assistance to a designated foreign terrorist organization with the intention of relinquishing his or her citizenship. This provision would violate Americans’ constitutional right to due process, including by depriving them of citizenship based on secret evidence, and without the right to a jury trial and accompanying protections enshrined in the Fifth and Sixth Amendments. In sum, the bill turns the whole notion of due process on its head. Government officials do not have the power to strip citizenship from American citizens who never renounced their citizenship and were never convicted of a crime. Second, the material assistance provision suffers from the same constitutional flaws that plague other material support laws, and goes far beyond what the Supreme Court has held is constitutionally permissible when First and Fourth Amendments rights are at stake…“
  • As of this writing, text of the bill is not online, so it is not known what Cruz has done to “modernize” the bill. Given current political climate — in which viewpoints and activism are increasingly labeled or equated with terrorism and support for terrorism, and or accused of “aligning with” foreign terrorist organizations — it is fair to say that “modernizing” has an ominous ring to it.

(STRIPPING US CITIZENSHIP FROM ANY NATURALIZED CITIZEN FOR ALLEGED SUPPORT FOR TERROR) S.4105 [bill text]: Introduced 3/17/26 by Cotton (R-AR), “A bill to include any felony conviction as a ground for revocation of naturalization, to strike the 5-year limitation on the revocation of naturalization for membership in certain totalitarian or treasonous organizations, and to eliminate the 10-year statute of limitation for certain criminal penalties that would disqualify a person from naturalization.” Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. Per Cotton’s press release, the bill would “Ensure any naturalized citizen who is a member or affiliated with a terrorist organization, at any point after receiving citizenship, is subject to having his or her citizenship revoked.”

(BARRING U.S. ENTRY TO PEOPLE FROM OR WHO HAVE LIVED IN TARGETED COUNTRIES) HR 7964: Introduced 3/17/26 by Ogles (R-TN) and 3 Republican cosponsors, the “Halt Immigration from Countries with Inadequate Verification Capabilities Act” (HICIVA),” aka,”To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to prohibit the admission of aliens from certain countries where the United States cannot reliably verify the identities or backgrounds of individuals seeking entry, building upon the framework established by Presidential Proclamation 9645 and upheld by the Supreme Court in Trump v. Hawaii, 585 U.S. ___ (2018), and for other purposes.” No bill text is available as of this writing, but per Fox News, the bill, “targets Iran, Libya, North Korea, Syria, Venezuela and Yemen. The bill describes those countries as regions ‘where the government or prevailing conditions do not allow for reliable verification of the identities, backgrounds, or intentions’ for travelers looking to enter the U.S. The ban would also apply to individuals who have lived in the listed countries in the five years before the date of their attempted entry.” Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary. 

(PUTTING LIMITS ON DEPARTMENT OF WAR’S USE OF AI) S. 4113:  Introduced 3/17/26 by Slotkin (D-MI), “A bill to provide for limitations on the use of artificial intelligence by Department of Defense.” Referred to the Committee on Armed Services. Also see: press release – Slotkin Legislation Puts Common-sense Guardrails on DOD AI Use Around Lethal Force, Spying on Americans and Nuclear Weapons 

Media related to other legislation:

2. Letters

3. Hearings & Markups

March 18, 2026: The Senate Select Committee on Intelligence held an OPEN hearing entitled, Worldwide Threats. Witnesses were: Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard (statement); CIA Director John L. Ratcliffe; FBI Director Kash Patel; Acting Commander, U.S. Cyber Command; Performing Duties of Director, National Security Agency/Chief, Central Security Service U.S. Cyber Command; NSA/CSS William J. Hartman; and DIA Director James H. Adams III.

March 18, 2026: The Senate Foreign Relations Committee held a closed/classified (TS/SCI) briefing, Update on the Current Situation in the Middle East. The briefers were Don Blome, senior official in the Department of State/Bureau of Intelligence and Research; and Steve Galpern, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of Analysis in the Department of State/Bureau of Intelligence and Research.

March 20, 2026: The House Appropriations Committee held a an Oversight Field Hearing – Accountability and Reform at the United Nations [hearing video]. The sole scheduled witness was U.S. Representative of the United States of America to the United Nations Michael Waltz. Also see: press release – Diaz-Balart Remarks at Oversight Field Hearing on Accountability and Reform at the United Nations

4. Selected Members on the Record

REMINDER: At some point earlier this month X appears to have killed the feature that allowed me to (relatively) easily track what members of Congress are saying using keyword searches of X lists (after previously killing the functionality that permitted me to conduct this tracking via a script). AS A RESULT: if you want track what members of Congress are saying about Israel/Palestine/Iran/etc on X, you – like me – are now obliged to track 535 accounts individually. Which I don’t have the capacity to do. Meaning that this section of the Round-Up will henceforth be a lot thinner, comprised of press releases posted on members’ website and statements on the Congressional Record, as well as odds and ends of statements on X that I have come across. 

ALSO REMINDER: It is simply beyond the capacity of the Round-Up to track [let alone document] what every member of the House and Senate is saying about the US/Israel war with Iran. To see what a specific member has said, check their websites and social media accounts.

Israel/AIPAC & US politics/elex

  • Jayapal (D-WA) 3/20/26: X-post – “The only attacks are coming from the millions of dollars of donor money you wasted against Biss and the lies you’re telling about us. Sorry you couldn’t buy this election!” Responding to AIPAC X-post – “Where Jayapal & Casar make the case to demonize and discriminate against pro-Israel Americans. Millions of AIPAC members are Democrats who will not be silenced. Is there any other group of Democrats being singled out and attacked for their beliefs, or just the pro-Israel ones?“
  • Casar (D-TX) 3/20/26: X-post – “You guys just blew $7 million in Trump donor money telling lies like this one, and you still lost to progressive Daniel Biss. Keep it up!” Responding to AIPAC X-post – “Where Jayapal & Casar make the case to demonize and discriminate against pro-Israel Americans. Millions of AIPAC members are Democrats who will not be silenced. Is there any other group of Democrats being singled out and attacked for their beliefs, or just the pro-Israel ones?“
  • Meeks (D-NY) 3/19/26: Meeks Calls out Trump Admin for Again Abusing Emergency Authorities to Bypass Congress on Arms Sales
  • Jayapal (D-WI) 3/18/26: “The problem isn’t just AIPAC – it’s a system that lets any special interest pour unlimited cash into our elections and hide it from voters. That has to end. Get dark money out of our elections NOW.“
  • Pocan (D-WI) 3/18/26: X-post – “Then why @AIPAC do none of your commercials mention Israel? Or being pro-Israel? Or even get purchased under your name instead of a fake LLC? Sure seems like something is fishy… Keep your Trump donor money and quit spending it in Democratic primaries.” Responding to AIPAC X-post, “This isn’t a hard equation, David: The overwhelming majority of pro-Israel candidates are winning. + The overwhelming majority of anti-Israel candidates are losing. = Being pro-Israel is good policy and good politics.” That post was a response to an X-post from David Hogg, “Always remember no matter how many times AIPAC says being pro Israel is good politics not one of their ads they spent 22 million on in Illinois mentions Israel a single time and their reputation is so toxic they had to spend that money through shell pacs and bundling.“
  • Pocan (D-WI) 3/18/26: X-post – “Or one could say that a former member of Congress, who represented part of that area, got elected again. Gee that story is a lot less exciting and doesn’t cover for AIPAC’s giant losses elsewhere.” Responding to Jewish Insider post, “My new analysis @J_Insider: “AIPAC shows staying power in Illinois Democratic primaries” ‘Reports of the demise of AIPAC’s political clout in Democratic primaries, it turned out, were greatly exaggerated.’“
  • Casar (D-TX) 3/18/26: X-post – “After AIPAC spent $6 million trying to defeat him, progressive @DanielBiss just won his primary in Chicago. Congratulations to our newest Progressive Caucus member and his supporters on this hard fought victory over big money.“
  • Khanna (D-CA) 3/17/26: X-post – “I was proud to stand with @BernieSanders & endorse candidates who stood against war, against big money, and for justice. I lost twice before I won, including an anti-Iraq war campaign, and Bernie lost 4 times before he won. In the long run, principles matter.” Responding to AIPAC X-post – “Being endorsed by @BernieSanders, @RoKhanna, @justicedems and @sunrisemvmt was a kiss of death in Illinois. Democratic voters rejected their extreme anti-Israel candidates, instead choosing mainstream candidates. AIPAC is proud to help defeat six would-be Squad members tonight!“
  • Casar (D-TX) 3/17/26: X-post – “If you care about the future of Democratic Party, you should be watching today’s elections in Illinois. AIPAC spent $22 million to try to punish candidates who stand up for human rights. We have to get big money out of politics.“
  • Omar (D-MN) 3/17/26: X-post – “AIPAC is spending $22 million in Illinois on Democratic primaries. AIPAC and other Republican super PACs should not be allowed to spend millions using shell PACs to support Israel’s genocidal apartheid regime.“
  • Khanna (D-CA) v. AIPAC & the ADL on X, 3/17/26: CAP’s Patrick Gaspard posted, in response to a post by a Jewish Insider journalist about the ADL’s Jonathan Greenblatt attacking Rep. Khanna (D-CA) and Sen. Van Hollen (D-MD), “This nonsense is no longer going to fly. Every Democrat should denounce this and defend ⁦@ChrisVanHollen ⁩ and ⁦ @RoKhanna ⁩ – two public servants with integrity who have always repudiated hate while defending the rights of all.” Khanna responded, “Facts don’t matter to Greenblatt. He is a Trump apologist who attacked Obama’s nuclear deal, defends Elon, and is basically a shill for the Trump Administration and Netanyahu. Sad to see. He has zero respect among any House Democrats anymore.” AIPAC responded: “Facts like you using a clip of an antisemite in a video you posted OR you applauding a group that is trying to drive pro-Israel Democrats out of politics OR you sitting with a podcaster who says Zionists are neo-Nazis OR you speaking at a conference where they laughed at 10/7?” Khanna responded, “When will @aipac & @ADL be merging? Greenblatt you’ve sucked up enough to Trump you can probably get the merger approved in this Administration.”
  • Massie (R-KY) 3/17/26: X-post – “AIPAC should be required to register as an agent of a foreign government under FARA, because even U.S. citizens are meant to be subject to FARA. AIPAC and closely associated entities have spent over $6 million to influence my election….“
  • Sanders (I-VT) 3/16/26: X-post – “AIPAC is spending millions in Democratic primaries to smear critics of Netanyahu’s genocidal policies. It’s time to kick AIPAC and other billionaire-funded super PACs out of Democratic primaries.“
  • Fetterman (D-PA) 3/16/26: X-post – “I don’t follow the polls. As a Democrat, I unapologetically stand on the side of moral clarity and our ally Israel.” Commenting on headline, Support for Israel Among Democrats Has Plummeted More Than 50% Since October 7 Attacks: New Poll
  • Khanna (D-CA) 3/15/26: X-post w/ video clip – “I was a proud early endorser of @KatAbughazaleh when no one gave her a shot. Now she can win. @MarkRuffalo is right — we must do everything to help her overcome millions in Super PAC funding and send her to Congress.” Commenting on post w/ Mark Ruffalo video, “Mark Ruffalo endorses Kat Abughazaleh for IL-09 ‘Don’t let AIPAC buy our politicians. Vote for Kat. Vote for a politician who will be working for you, not a foreign entity who drags us into wars and cares nothing for the American people’“

Israel/US vs. Iran & Lebanon

  • Tlaib (D-MI) 3/19/26: X-post – “I know this Ramadan was incredibly hard for our families, especially those with family in Lebanon and Palestine. Even among all the pain and suffering, I hope this Eid is filled with hope as we continue to keep showing up, speaking out, and caring for our communities.“
  • Lee (D-PA) 3/19/26: X-post – “Our tax dollars are paying for bombs dropped on civilians from Gaza to Iran to Lebanon, and we’re supposed to just sit back and watch full homes blown up on social media. It’s sickening. No more weapons to Israel or bombs sent abroad, period.“
  • Tlaib (D-MI) 3/18/26: X-post – “As we approach the celebration of Eid, thousands of our families with relatives in Lebanon are struggling right now. This year’s Eid feels different for us. I know many have lost loved ones and watched the Israeli apartheid regime bomb their grandparents’ homes and uproot entire neighborhoods.“
  • Sanders (I-VT) 3/18/26: X-post – “As we focus on Iran and Lebanon, let’s not forget what’s happening in the West Bank. In one year, more than 36,000 Palestinians were forcibly displaced and 240 were killed. There were over 1,700 attacks by Israeli settlers. We must end U.S. military aid to Netanyahu.“
  • Tlaib (D-MI) 3/18/26: X-post w/ video clip – “I am praying for the many families in the 12th District with loved ones in Lebanon as the Israeli apartheid regime bombs cities and forcibly displaces entire neighborhoods. We must put an immediate end to this ethnic cleansing and destructive regional war.“
  • Sanders (I-VT) 3/17/26: X-post – “Joseph Kent, a top counterterrorism official under Trump, just resigned. Kent and I don’t agree on much, but he is right: ‘Iran posed no imminent threat to our nation, and it is clear that we started this war due to pressure from Israel and its powerful American lobby.'”
  • Gottheimer (D-NJ) 3/17/26: X-post – “Joe Kent resigning and immediately pivoting to blaming Israel for everything is as predictable as it is unserious. Scapegoating Israel isn’t just a tired antisemitic trope – it’s anti-American. This is a guy with ties to white supremacists and has ‘PANZER’ tattooed on his arm, referring to a Nazi tank infamously used in crimes against Jews. Kent’s reduction of Iran to “Israel’s fault” isn’t leadership, it’s bigoted deflection.“
  • Fetterman (D-PA) 3/17/26: X-post – “As a Democrat, I’m deeply proud to stand with Israel through the horror of 10/07. I’m deeply proud of our military and what they’ve accomplished in Epic Fury. Picking country over party is never wrong.” Linked to headline, Fetterman condemned by Carville for supporting Iran war, says he’s always on wrong side of issues
  • Khanna (D-CA) 3/17/26: X-post – “The American people deserve to know why this Administration dragged us into war in Iran. @joekent16jan19 should come before Congress. If even officials like Joe Kent do not believe Iran posed an imminent threat, why are we sending more Americans to die in this war?”
  • Graham (R-SC) 3/17/26: “Just spoke to @POTUS about our European allies’ unwillingness to provide assets to keep the Strait of Hormuz functioning, which benefits Europe far more than America. I have never heard him so angry in my life. I share that anger given what’s at stake. The arrogance of our allies to suggest that Iran with a nuclear weapon is of little concern and that military action to stop the ayatollah from acquiring a nuclear bomb is our problem not theirs is beyond offensive. The European approach to containing the ayatollah’s nuclear ambitions have proven to be a miserable failure. The repercussions of providing little assistance to keep the Strait of Hormuz functioning are going to be wide and deep for Europe and America. I consider myself very forward-leaning on supporting alliances, however at a time of real testing like this, it makes me second guess the value of these alliances. I am certain I am not the only senator who feels this way.“
  • Beyer (D-VA) 3/16/26: X-post – “The disastrous chain of reckless escalations beginning with the US-Israeli war of choice against Iran, followed by Hezbollah’s tragic decision to join the war looks to be culminating in another Israeli ground invasion in Lebanon. Lebanese civilians are paying the ultimate price for tragic mistakes out of their control, with hundreds killed and nearly one million already displaced from their homes. A broader, regional war engulfing all of Lebanon is in no one’s interests. The US must prioritize mediation efforts and strengthening the ability of the Lebanese state to keep its people safe.“
  • Murphy (D-CT) 3/26/26: X-post w/ links & video clips – “Trump’s illegal attack on Iran has set off regional war. The latest – Israel’s ground invasion of Lebanon. 800 are already dead. 1/ Tonight, I want to walk you thru a thread on how devastating this new war could be, and how Trump’s blunder set it in motion. 2/ Iran’s terrorist proxy, Hezbollah, operates out of Lebanon. Fierce fighting between Israel and Hezbollah broke out after the October 2023 Hamas attacks on Israel. It lasted for a year until a ceasefire in November 2024. Trump inherited this ceasefire. 3/ But Trump inherited something else good: a new Lebanese government – the most competent in decades – that was open to confronting Hezbollah. And this was the only real, long term solution – the Lebanese government taking full control of the country. 4/ But Trump threw it away with his attack on Iran. It was totally foreseeable that Iran would activate Hezbollah. Hezbollah started sending rockets into Israel. And the hardline Israeli government’s reaction – total war with Lebanon – was foreseeable too. 5/ But just like in Gaza, Israel risks throwing caution to the wind in a massive new invasion of southern Lebanon. We are going to do [to Lebanon] what we did in Gaza,” a senior Israeli official said. Tens of thousands could die. 6/ Israel needs to defend itself from Hezbollah rocket attacks. But a full ground invasion, modelled after Gaza, would likely be a strategic and humanitarian disaster. There are better options. This could be Trump’s legacy: a second Gaza. 7/ The Strait of Hormuz is closed. Gas prices are spiking. Missiles rain down on Iran’s neighbors. Iraq and Syria are teetering. And now war between Israel and Lebanon that will kill thousands and displace hundreds of thousands. All the result of Trump’s incompetence.“

Palestinian Lives/rights matter!

  • Ramirez (D-IL) 3/16/26: X-post – “The genocide of Palestinians has not ended. Israeli soldiers just murdered Ali and Waed Odeh and two of their children, while wounding their other two children. Congress can’t turn a blind eye to the horrors happening to Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza. We must hold the Israeli government accountable. That starts by passing Block the Bombs. Not one more dollar, not one more excuse.“
  • Van Hollen (D-MD) 3/13/26 X-post w/ video clip – “Last month another American was killed in the West Bank, the 9th in just over 4 years. Israeli settler violence is out of control but the Trump Admin, like the Biden Admin before it, hasn’t gotten justice for any of these killings. Rubio & Huckabee: DO YOUR DAMN JOBS!“
  • Jacobs (D-CA) 3/13/26; X-post – “Hind Rajab was a brave and beautiful five-year-old Palestinian girl who was reportedly killed by the IDF in Gaza. In her memory, Senator Welch and I are fighting for accountability for her death and all the civilian harm in Gaza.“

Targeting Free Speech/Right to Protest/Academia critical of Israel/Zionism; Weaponization of Claims of Antisemitism

  • McConnell (R-KY) 3/17/26: X-post – “Joe Kent testified before the Senate one year ago that Iran and its terror proxies threatened U.S. servicemembers in the Middle East. He said it would be an honor to return to the fight against terrorism, and he pledged to lead with integrity and accountability. The virulent anti-Semitism of his resignation letter makes it clear that Mr. Kent is incapable of upholding these pledges, and those who mistake its baseless and incendiary conspiracies for brave truth-telling are only fooling themselves. Isolationists and anti-Semites have no place in either party, and certainly do not deserve places of trust in our government.“
  • Kim (D-NJ) 3/17/26: X-post – “I am relieved that Leqaa Kordia has been released from ICE’s custody and is finally free. This should never have happened. Thank you to all in NJ who stood up for Leqaa. Because of you, she is now able to be reunited with her family.“
  • House Committee on Education and the Workforce (GOP) 3/17/26 X-post: “BREAKING !! the Committee just released a bombshell report on the spread of antisemitism on American college campuses. The report found that weak leadership, radical faculty, activist student groups, and foreign funding are to blame. Read the report“. Also see: press release – Education & Workforce Committee Releases Bombshell Report on Antisemitism in Higher Ed [almost entirely framed in terms that conflate criticism of Israel/Zionism and advocacy for Palestinian live/rights with antisemitism]; text of report; text of 818-page appendix. Also see X-post from HCE&W Chair Walberg (R-MI) 3/17/26: “Antisemitism continues to spread like wildfire at schools across the nation. Let the release of this report serve as an important reminder: if university leaders forget their legal responsibility to address discrimination of any form on campus, my colleagues and I will remind them.” NOTE: The Committee followed this with a multi-day flurry of X-posts promoting the report – examples: here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here. Also see:  House Republicans 3/18/26: X-post – “Antisemitism on campus isn’t an accident. It’s what happens when those in charge stay silent and extremists take over — backed by radical professors, foreign funding, and activist groups. Universities across the country are FAILING Jewish students and faculty. Jewish students deserve to feel SAFE. Everywhere.” Also, cue the THANK YOU! WE LOVE & ENDORSE THIS! X-post from the ADL.
  • Ramirez (D-IL) 3/13/26: X-post – “Today marks a year of Leqaa Kordia, a Palestinian activist, being unlawfully detained by the Trump Administration in an inhumane ICE prison for exercising her first amendment right. Her crime? Speaking out against genocide. Her release is long overdue! Let’s pass my Melt ICE Act and end detention.“

Islamophobia

  • Tuberville (R-AL) 3/16/26: X-post – “The Quran calls on Muslims to wage ‘jihad’ or holy war against nonbelievers. WAKE UP. They want EVERY SINGLE freedom-loving Christian and Jew DEAD. I will not back down.“

5. Selected Media

Israel/AIPAC (and Iran) in US elex & politics – GENERAL

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – Illinois

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – California

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – New York

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – New Jersey

  • New Jersey Globe 3/13/26: Pro-Way group’s ad blitz was funded by AIPAC donors [“80% of DLGA’s fundraising during NJ-11 special came from donors who have also given to pro-Israel groups“] NOTE: Illustrating what it looks like to conflate “AIPAC” with all Jewish people (conflation that, if committed by someone critical of AIPAC or Israel would spark howls of “ANTISEMITISM!!!!”) the Executive Editor of Jewish Insider commented on this article on X, “‘AIPAC donors’ are American citizens who have the same right as any other American citizen to donate to the candidates and PACs they feel best support their interests. It would have been easier for the NJ Globe to just write ‘Jews.'”]

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – Florida

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – Texas

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – Colorado

  • Jewish Insider 3/19/26: Colorado far left mobilizes against John Hickenlooper, Diana DeGette [“Gonzales is a former member of the Democratic Socialists of America…she’s made criticism of Israel a centerpiece of her bid, accusing Israel of genocide, supporting an arms embargo and vowing, ‘I will never vote to send U.S. taxpayer dollars to Israel. Especially when communities here at home are being told there’s no money for schools or healthcare.’…Another lesser-known candidate in the Senate, University of Colorado Professor Karen Breslin, is, like Gonzales and Kiros, endorsed by the extreme anti-Israel group Track AIPAC…”]

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – Arizona

US/Israel War on Iran & Lebanon

Islamophobia

Targeting Free Speech/Right to Protest/Academia re: Palestinian lives/rights