Dr. Maura Finkelstein was fired from her post as a tenured professor for her anti-genocide activism — making clear the walls are closing in on American education and democracy itself.
What an admirable person. Thank you, Dr. Finkelstein. Everything you said resonated with me. This morning, I read an article in Haaretz about starvation in Gaza, accompanied by a photo of a starving child that was hard to look at. Yesterday, I listened to an interview of a physician who had just returned from Gaza in which he described treating children who had been targeted with rifle shots to the head, or to the groin, or to the arms and legs, depending on the day of the week. He treated one child who was missing both arms, both legs and both eyes, who died on the operating table. This doctor’s account was very similar to those of others I have heard over the last several months.
This afternoon, I read a story in the NYT about aid groups’ reports, including those of Save the Children and Doctors Without Borders, of intentional starvation in Gaza. What struck me most were the comments. Although there were certainly many from readers who were outraged at Israel and also the U.S., the majority appeared to deny that people were starving (or that enough people were starving to be of consequence), to blame Hamas, and to defend Israel. I am hoping that most of the comments were coordinated Israeli propaganda, but I’m not so sure. I had to stop reading, as I had begun to believe that the majority of my fellow citizens were opposed to the genocide and that many of them were doing something about it. Even most people I know personally, though, are doing nothing. It’s hard to process.
What to do? Make comments here, send money to Public Citizen and Palestinian organizations, and sign petitions and leave messages to our AIPAC Congress persons. Hakeem Jeffries got soaked in over a million dollars by AIPAC. Such a cheap empty shirt he is. Like Schumer. Is it a surprise that our limp Congress especially the Democrats are silent about Gaza? And seemingly bought popcorn and walked up to the top bleachers to watch our democratic institutions shredded? Over half of Congress are millionaires and possibly 8 of the Chief justices are too. What does that tell you? I sure hope we support Mamdani’s efforts for NYC mayor. If only to send a pungent message to the oligarchs, we people are fed up being silent and rolling over. You may have $ but we have more. We have Us.
"This afternoon, I read a story in the NYT..." Please stop doing that, or at least don't pay them for their nonsense.
After their recent op ed "No Israel is not committing genocide in Gaza.", I think they belong in the dock alongside so, so many enablers of genocide around the world.
You’re right — they do. A comment I wrote today accusing the NYT of complicity in genocide actually was published. That probably wouldn’t have happened a month ago. I’ve debated stopping my subscription. I should correct my previous statement about the comments, though. When I went back to look at a reply, it was clear that the bulk of posters condemn Israel.
Nancy when it comes to what is going on in this world most Americans, especially older Americans, know the world solely through their choice of propaganda, ergo they know little to nothing. Younger people who access there computers have many sources of truth, supported by photo's which substantiate it, and in that regard there is hope. Those deniers you referenced might just be afraid to acknowledge the horrors Israel is implementing, since they are instilling fear into people.
Very pleased to see Chris Hedges do this interview. I live not far from Muhlenberg, and The Morning Call, our local paper, gave fairly good coverage to Professor Finkelstein—something you don’t always get in mainstream publications—but it was good to see Hedges do a deeper dive into what’s been going on.
Welcome to the inside out world, where Zionists pretend to be Jews, and Palestinians are treated like Jews were 80 years ago. It’s getting difficult to parse this narrative as it twists around itself. Now Zionists have turned against Jews, and somehow expect to get away with it.
(You know what? They just might. They will flee to places like Argentina and the Upper West Side, which will soon be the only places Zionists might vacation.)
After the war, the only reason Eichmann and his fellow monsters met justice is because they were hunted by Zionists.
When this nightmare ends, as all nightmares do, who will be left to hunt these monsters?
I don’t think we’ve ever known a government of the people. Rhetoric and bourgeois conveniences have forestalled rebellion, but the rhetoric has gotten stale and the gloves have come off.
Oh come on, you’re telling me the government of slave owners that killed the natives weren’t being honest about being a land governed by “The People”?! /s 😉🇺🇸
There are people that are right now fighting this horror upon our nation, Candace Owen’s, Tucker Carlson, so this is NOT a right or left thing, so please Don’t be drawn into either party, they are controlled and evil.
5 days ago
"When exposing a crime is treated as committing a crime, you are being ruled by criminals." ~ Edward Snowden
Professor Finkelstein is a very intelligent, articulate caring person. Her firing is another example of the decline of our higher education system and country which will allow China, which puts a lot of resources into improving and expanding higher education to move ahead of the United States. Higher education needs more people like Professor Finkelstein in order for it to grow and prosper.
Israel kills whatever it touches. Hillel is obviously Israel’s advance IDF force without uniforms. Zionism is anti-civilization. Appalled is a meek word for the feeling inside upon seeing the dulled, dumb consciousness behind the loss of the once highly cherished right of free speech and academic freedom. I hear and read reports of China’s flood of creativity and her fine academic institutions and of the fact the government keeps the corporate sector free to develop yet leashed. I see my country is becoming more and more. disappeared.Rotten.
The terms "Right" & "Left" have lost thier meaning.
Instead of saying "Far Right" you should be calling out specific behavior and why it is offensive or wrong.
DEI is a loaded term, as it is treated as a religious dogma, and applied in very discrimitory ways, which is provoking blowback. Those who consider themselves Leftists, or Progressives have no conciousness of this. To give an example, recently my wife & I attended my sons graduation from University where he took Urban Planning. The Commencement Speak was a sermon about LBGTQ literature. We left the room with the feeling of "what was that?" What did that have to do with our son graduating having learned about the design of the Urban Landscape. I am sure that a lot of parents were offended, and to what purpose?
My point is by conflating issues, the academic community looses a lot of support, which groups such as Zionists exploit. (Just watch Ben Saparo)
On a serious note I do agree. I consider myself to be liberal, but I do think there is a time and place for everything, and at a college graduating event an LBGTO sermon is not the place. I think one of the reasons so many are turned off on issues like climate change, is the way the message has been sent in recent times, like blocking traffic, or entering art museums and throwing pies, or cakes at paintings of highly recognized artists. If anything they are turning people against their message. I can't even stand them.
Thanks for this unsettling piece of ‘higher education’.
My only comment is that we have to stop couching our appreciation of what’s going on during these ‘genocide times’ in terms of ‘left’ and ‘right’. These terms no longer apply when referring to how the Zionists see the world. They are in the process of consigning them to history and replacing them with ‘imposition’ and ‘submission’ with the Zionists doing ‘imposition’ and everyone else doing ‘submission’. Thinking - of any kind - is ‘wrong’ and unacceptable. Even the political ‘right’ is targeted for control - despite its pull towards authoritarianism - as it has its ideology and arguments. And as for ‘empathy’, well, the Zionists will spit on you for that just like young Jews do to Christians in the Holy Land.
So rather than ‘left’ and ‘right’ ideology we need to see the developing situation throughout the West rather as Hamas does in Gaza: between ‘domination’ and ‘resistance’ will.
So what’s happening in Palestine isn’t just about the loss of life, well-being and culture (of the Palestinians) but also the loss of life, well-being and culture of our ideologies in the West.
Thank you so much, Professor Hedges, Dr. Finkelstein. Your work inspires me to believe that a better world is possible, if we are willing to work for it, to make some sacrifice for it.
I’m truly honored to support Chris Hedges, an exceptional individual who, alongside many others, plays a vital role in sharing essential information and helping to uncover deeper truths. And thanks for all sacrifices made by Professor Maura Finkelstein.
The Epstein Horror and Russia-gate immense crimes are indeed horrible and require full analysis and punishment. However, right now nothing compares with Gaza genocide and the Final Solution phase of seven decades of terror and ethnic cleansing of Palestinians.
This is US genocide and now -- it is fully conducted and owned by Trump. As China’s foreign minister said: "The United States has lost its legitimacy to lead the world …. It is no longer morally qualified to speak of values or peace while supporting genocide in Gaza."
This is radical Zoinists playing " connect the dots" and attempting to codify the thread. Thread: Pro Palastinian rights=antisemism=illegal=any perpetrator of anti-semitism being removed from society in whole or in part.
Answer to radical Zionism=remove antisemitism from our language, civil discourse, and/or law. Reason; it's meaningless. Its like trying to weave the religous dogma of "good" and "evil" into law. Thomas Jefferson saw the folly of this while developong his doctrine of "seperation of church and state" in U.S. civil society. It might be time that the masses pay attention to his thoughts.
Seems to me that more students do not agree with the repression of free speech (which more and more institutions of higher learning are reveling themselves to embrace--even if at the hands of APAC) than those that do. Why then, do these students keep showing up to these institutions each fall? Idiots. I say ditch these academic administrative sons of bitches. Why would you want to be a part of it...and even go so far as to give your money (or go into debt) to them? Again, stupidity. If you really want to strike, then strike by dropping your enrollment. That would be exercising the real power of plurality. Instead, I see these dumb ass "students" signing up for more abuse each year. APAC funding is not going to run these schools on their donations alone. Dr. Finkelstein admitted that even at the high end of schools with a Jewish population, Muhlenburg, was only 30%. Even at 30%, that does not mean all of there are radical Zionist either.
As in all cases of corruption, follow the money. The only reason Zionist biased capitalist institutions are continuing this charade within universities is because the U.S. federal debt level advance to a level of over $37T. Why is this phenomena related to our debt? Because Zionist zietgeist is an unproductive, dead end propoganda policy where the limited "few" are treated more equal that the majority of "others". I'm guessing that many of the radical Zionist "students" that Israel sends over to Muhlenburg, Princeton, Columbia, etc. every year to push their antisemitism propaganda agenda* is funded by the U.S. taxpayer in the form of Israel "foreign aid" every year anyhow. Just a viscous circle jerk of upward spiraling debt--all at the U.S. taxpayer expense; certainly not Israel's. The answer: The U.S. taxpayer should demand a balanced budget amendment to the U.S. Constitution immediately. That would be the beginning of the end of the charade tomorrow! Same problem with police abuse. No demand for an end to qualified immunity for the men in blue, then no reform. Again, stupidity to not demand such! Thus, the tax payer will just keep paying for all the abuses and settlements engineered by the Ben Crump type 'public dole ambulance chasers' and police unions. In turn, those bailouts (for criminal misconduct--including murder-- which is prosecuted as 'wrongful death' to make it sound more palatable to those that are less equal than others) which never really gets paid by State and Local governments-- eventually go on the Fed debt tab too. And so the debt keeps growing---$37T, 38T, 39T , $45T... You may say "who cares ?"; its a lunatic funny number anyhow. Well, it currently costs the U.S. taxpayer $2.84B a day in interest to fund this lunacy! That's real financial pain and empirical destruction any way you cut it.
As for Finkelstein's notion that all education should be free. Bullshit. Why should it be free? It costs a lot of money to provide the service of education. Its valuable. We charge for every other service of value in the U.S. So I ask you: What, of any value, is the U.S. taxpayer given for free in "America". Not a god damn thing--in my view. Certainly not the lunatic notion that we deliver "free" education--which has only been around for about 75 years. It needs to end immediately. Why? Because free public education is a proven failure. Its not free; It's one of the main components of society that, IMO, is driving us ever deeper (and quicker) into debt. This "free education" notion appears to have been a pipe dream sold to the public (subsequently embraced and bastardized by teacher's unions) and viewed as an element of exceptionalism for having won WWII. To the victor, should go ALL the spoils--forever. More bullshit.
*Zionist campaign for the global public to accept anything Israel does politically or military is acceptable and exceptionally excusable because "Jews" have be persecuted throughout history and, in particular, during WWII, as part of the Nazi Germany's "Final Solution" campaign of systematic Jewish extermination.
Excellent discussion and inside look at what we’re watching from the outside of academia such as it is. Fun fact: my alma mater Bowdoin has suspended their SJP chapter — co-founded by Zohran Mandani —through next year for an encampment.
Start liking it. The West is dropping the pretense of liberty and equal protection like a snake sheds its skin.
If Team D were in office, they'd do much the same, albeit with more glib and self-serving human rights talk.
What an admirable person. Thank you, Dr. Finkelstein. Everything you said resonated with me. This morning, I read an article in Haaretz about starvation in Gaza, accompanied by a photo of a starving child that was hard to look at. Yesterday, I listened to an interview of a physician who had just returned from Gaza in which he described treating children who had been targeted with rifle shots to the head, or to the groin, or to the arms and legs, depending on the day of the week. He treated one child who was missing both arms, both legs and both eyes, who died on the operating table. This doctor’s account was very similar to those of others I have heard over the last several months.
This afternoon, I read a story in the NYT about aid groups’ reports, including those of Save the Children and Doctors Without Borders, of intentional starvation in Gaza. What struck me most were the comments. Although there were certainly many from readers who were outraged at Israel and also the U.S., the majority appeared to deny that people were starving (or that enough people were starving to be of consequence), to blame Hamas, and to defend Israel. I am hoping that most of the comments were coordinated Israeli propaganda, but I’m not so sure. I had to stop reading, as I had begun to believe that the majority of my fellow citizens were opposed to the genocide and that many of them were doing something about it. Even most people I know personally, though, are doing nothing. It’s hard to process.
What to do? Make comments here, send money to Public Citizen and Palestinian organizations, and sign petitions and leave messages to our AIPAC Congress persons. Hakeem Jeffries got soaked in over a million dollars by AIPAC. Such a cheap empty shirt he is. Like Schumer. Is it a surprise that our limp Congress especially the Democrats are silent about Gaza? And seemingly bought popcorn and walked up to the top bleachers to watch our democratic institutions shredded? Over half of Congress are millionaires and possibly 8 of the Chief justices are too. What does that tell you? I sure hope we support Mamdani’s efforts for NYC mayor. If only to send a pungent message to the oligarchs, we people are fed up being silent and rolling over. You may have $ but we have more. We have Us.
Excellent suggestions. Have done all of the above. Didn’t know that about Jeffries, but I’m not surprised.
"This afternoon, I read a story in the NYT..." Please stop doing that, or at least don't pay them for their nonsense.
After their recent op ed "No Israel is not committing genocide in Gaza.", I think they belong in the dock alongside so, so many enablers of genocide around the world.
You’re right — they do. A comment I wrote today accusing the NYT of complicity in genocide actually was published. That probably wouldn’t have happened a month ago. I’ve debated stopping my subscription. I should correct my previous statement about the comments, though. When I went back to look at a reply, it was clear that the bulk of posters condemn Israel.
Nancy when it comes to what is going on in this world most Americans, especially older Americans, know the world solely through their choice of propaganda, ergo they know little to nothing. Younger people who access there computers have many sources of truth, supported by photo's which substantiate it, and in that regard there is hope. Those deniers you referenced might just be afraid to acknowledge the horrors Israel is implementing, since they are instilling fear into people.
Something positive,
US court decisions allow for Abrego Garcia’s release, bar his deportation
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/7/23/us-court-decisions-allow-for-abrego-garcias-release-bar-his-deportation
Thank you for the good news, Fran!
"Many American Christians, including high-profile MAGA influencers, have had enough—jeopardizing one of Israel’s most vital bases of Western support."
https://www.theamericanconservative.com/is-israel-losing-american-christians/
Very pleased to see Chris Hedges do this interview. I live not far from Muhlenberg, and The Morning Call, our local paper, gave fairly good coverage to Professor Finkelstein—something you don’t always get in mainstream publications—but it was good to see Hedges do a deeper dive into what’s been going on.
Welcome to the inside out world, where Zionists pretend to be Jews, and Palestinians are treated like Jews were 80 years ago. It’s getting difficult to parse this narrative as it twists around itself. Now Zionists have turned against Jews, and somehow expect to get away with it.
(You know what? They just might. They will flee to places like Argentina and the Upper West Side, which will soon be the only places Zionists might vacation.)
After the war, the only reason Eichmann and his fellow monsters met justice is because they were hunted by Zionists.
When this nightmare ends, as all nightmares do, who will be left to hunt these monsters?
There will just be a different set of monsters.
You're so up beat Feral it's touching.
I think a lot of the monsters were also hunted by Russians.
keep it critical Chris
we’re closer each day to becoming like a kingdom, not a government for The People… at all!
That ship sailed long ago.
I don’t think we’ve ever known a government of the people. Rhetoric and bourgeois conveniences have forestalled rebellion, but the rhetoric has gotten stale and the gloves have come off.
Oh come on, you’re telling me the government of slave owners that killed the natives weren’t being honest about being a land governed by “The People”?! /s 😉🇺🇸
There are people that are right now fighting this horror upon our nation, Candace Owen’s, Tucker Carlson, so this is NOT a right or left thing, so please Don’t be drawn into either party, they are controlled and evil.
5 days ago
"When exposing a crime is treated as committing a crime, you are being ruled by criminals." ~ Edward Snowden
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0BGfo4yiCc8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pX2h-yTgLis
This is what the American people need. Push it all the way.
Professor Finkelstein is a very intelligent, articulate caring person. Her firing is another example of the decline of our higher education system and country which will allow China, which puts a lot of resources into improving and expanding higher education to move ahead of the United States. Higher education needs more people like Professor Finkelstein in order for it to grow and prosper.
Israel kills whatever it touches. Hillel is obviously Israel’s advance IDF force without uniforms. Zionism is anti-civilization. Appalled is a meek word for the feeling inside upon seeing the dulled, dumb consciousness behind the loss of the once highly cherished right of free speech and academic freedom. I hear and read reports of China’s flood of creativity and her fine academic institutions and of the fact the government keeps the corporate sector free to develop yet leashed. I see my country is becoming more and more. disappeared.Rotten.
Be on the lookout for trickle-down fascism.
The terms "Right" & "Left" have lost thier meaning.
Instead of saying "Far Right" you should be calling out specific behavior and why it is offensive or wrong.
DEI is a loaded term, as it is treated as a religious dogma, and applied in very discrimitory ways, which is provoking blowback. Those who consider themselves Leftists, or Progressives have no conciousness of this. To give an example, recently my wife & I attended my sons graduation from University where he took Urban Planning. The Commencement Speak was a sermon about LBGTQ literature. We left the room with the feeling of "what was that?" What did that have to do with our son graduating having learned about the design of the Urban Landscape. I am sure that a lot of parents were offended, and to what purpose?
My point is by conflating issues, the academic community looses a lot of support, which groups such as Zionists exploit. (Just watch Ben Saparo)
On a serious note I do agree. I consider myself to be liberal, but I do think there is a time and place for everything, and at a college graduating event an LBGTO sermon is not the place. I think one of the reasons so many are turned off on issues like climate change, is the way the message has been sent in recent times, like blocking traffic, or entering art museums and throwing pies, or cakes at paintings of highly recognized artists. If anything they are turning people against their message. I can't even stand them.
Look on the bright side, no one getting up there and saying there is no genocide in Gaza.
They reserve those comments for the hallways and walks back to their car.
Thanks for this unsettling piece of ‘higher education’.
My only comment is that we have to stop couching our appreciation of what’s going on during these ‘genocide times’ in terms of ‘left’ and ‘right’. These terms no longer apply when referring to how the Zionists see the world. They are in the process of consigning them to history and replacing them with ‘imposition’ and ‘submission’ with the Zionists doing ‘imposition’ and everyone else doing ‘submission’. Thinking - of any kind - is ‘wrong’ and unacceptable. Even the political ‘right’ is targeted for control - despite its pull towards authoritarianism - as it has its ideology and arguments. And as for ‘empathy’, well, the Zionists will spit on you for that just like young Jews do to Christians in the Holy Land.
So rather than ‘left’ and ‘right’ ideology we need to see the developing situation throughout the West rather as Hamas does in Gaza: between ‘domination’ and ‘resistance’ will.
So what’s happening in Palestine isn’t just about the loss of life, well-being and culture (of the Palestinians) but also the loss of life, well-being and culture of our ideologies in the West.
Thank you so much, Professor Hedges, Dr. Finkelstein. Your work inspires me to believe that a better world is possible, if we are willing to work for it, to make some sacrifice for it.
Rock on Brother, Sister!
I’m truly honored to support Chris Hedges, an exceptional individual who, alongside many others, plays a vital role in sharing essential information and helping to uncover deeper truths. And thanks for all sacrifices made by Professor Maura Finkelstein.
The Epstein Horror and Russia-gate immense crimes are indeed horrible and require full analysis and punishment. However, right now nothing compares with Gaza genocide and the Final Solution phase of seven decades of terror and ethnic cleansing of Palestinians.
This is US genocide and now -- it is fully conducted and owned by Trump. As China’s foreign minister said: "The United States has lost its legitimacy to lead the world …. It is no longer morally qualified to speak of values or peace while supporting genocide in Gaza."
This is radical Zoinists playing " connect the dots" and attempting to codify the thread. Thread: Pro Palastinian rights=antisemism=illegal=any perpetrator of anti-semitism being removed from society in whole or in part.
Answer to radical Zionism=remove antisemitism from our language, civil discourse, and/or law. Reason; it's meaningless. Its like trying to weave the religous dogma of "good" and "evil" into law. Thomas Jefferson saw the folly of this while developong his doctrine of "seperation of church and state" in U.S. civil society. It might be time that the masses pay attention to his thoughts.
Seems to me that more students do not agree with the repression of free speech (which more and more institutions of higher learning are reveling themselves to embrace--even if at the hands of APAC) than those that do. Why then, do these students keep showing up to these institutions each fall? Idiots. I say ditch these academic administrative sons of bitches. Why would you want to be a part of it...and even go so far as to give your money (or go into debt) to them? Again, stupidity. If you really want to strike, then strike by dropping your enrollment. That would be exercising the real power of plurality. Instead, I see these dumb ass "students" signing up for more abuse each year. APAC funding is not going to run these schools on their donations alone. Dr. Finkelstein admitted that even at the high end of schools with a Jewish population, Muhlenburg, was only 30%. Even at 30%, that does not mean all of there are radical Zionist either.
As in all cases of corruption, follow the money. The only reason Zionist biased capitalist institutions are continuing this charade within universities is because the U.S. federal debt level advance to a level of over $37T. Why is this phenomena related to our debt? Because Zionist zietgeist is an unproductive, dead end propoganda policy where the limited "few" are treated more equal that the majority of "others". I'm guessing that many of the radical Zionist "students" that Israel sends over to Muhlenburg, Princeton, Columbia, etc. every year to push their antisemitism propaganda agenda* is funded by the U.S. taxpayer in the form of Israel "foreign aid" every year anyhow. Just a viscous circle jerk of upward spiraling debt--all at the U.S. taxpayer expense; certainly not Israel's. The answer: The U.S. taxpayer should demand a balanced budget amendment to the U.S. Constitution immediately. That would be the beginning of the end of the charade tomorrow! Same problem with police abuse. No demand for an end to qualified immunity for the men in blue, then no reform. Again, stupidity to not demand such! Thus, the tax payer will just keep paying for all the abuses and settlements engineered by the Ben Crump type 'public dole ambulance chasers' and police unions. In turn, those bailouts (for criminal misconduct--including murder-- which is prosecuted as 'wrongful death' to make it sound more palatable to those that are less equal than others) which never really gets paid by State and Local governments-- eventually go on the Fed debt tab too. And so the debt keeps growing---$37T, 38T, 39T , $45T... You may say "who cares ?"; its a lunatic funny number anyhow. Well, it currently costs the U.S. taxpayer $2.84B a day in interest to fund this lunacy! That's real financial pain and empirical destruction any way you cut it.
As for Finkelstein's notion that all education should be free. Bullshit. Why should it be free? It costs a lot of money to provide the service of education. Its valuable. We charge for every other service of value in the U.S. So I ask you: What, of any value, is the U.S. taxpayer given for free in "America". Not a god damn thing--in my view. Certainly not the lunatic notion that we deliver "free" education--which has only been around for about 75 years. It needs to end immediately. Why? Because free public education is a proven failure. Its not free; It's one of the main components of society that, IMO, is driving us ever deeper (and quicker) into debt. This "free education" notion appears to have been a pipe dream sold to the public (subsequently embraced and bastardized by teacher's unions) and viewed as an element of exceptionalism for having won WWII. To the victor, should go ALL the spoils--forever. More bullshit.
*Zionist campaign for the global public to accept anything Israel does politically or military is acceptable and exceptionally excusable because "Jews" have be persecuted throughout history and, in particular, during WWII, as part of the Nazi Germany's "Final Solution" campaign of systematic Jewish extermination.
Excellent discussion and inside look at what we’re watching from the outside of academia such as it is. Fun fact: my alma mater Bowdoin has suspended their SJP chapter — co-founded by Zohran Mandani —through next year for an encampment.