Vance likens U.S.-Israel ties to NATO, says U.S. policy ‘cannot’ be 'subservient’ to Israel

Deep-dish dog whistle

Today's Daily Kickoff covers Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson's campaign rhetoric, Vice President JD Vance's views on U.S.-Israel policy, Houthi threats, and critical legislative updates from Capitol Hill.

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson targets top Jewish Democratic donor amid rocky road to reelection

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson is facing a long list of challengers in his reelection campaign next year — not to mention dismal job approval ratings and paltry fundraising. He kicked off his bid for a second term at an event on Sunday, however, directly targeting AIPAC as well as a Jewish Democratic donor who has... <a href="">Read More</a>

Houthi gains leave Saudi Arabia short on options and looking to Washington

Saudi Arabia’s escalating conflict with the Houthis has revealed just how challenging it has become for the U.S. to deter the Iran‑backed terrorist group, former officials and regional experts say, as Houthi gains along the Red Sea raise alarms about global shipping and give Tehran fresh leverage.&nbsp; Analysts said that while Israel could help Riyadh... <a href="">Read More</a>

Kash Patel calls online-driven violence the top U.S. security threat, citing synagogue attacks

FBI Director Kash Patel said on Tuesday that he believes “the greatest single security threat” to the United States “is the perpetration of violence through the online space.”&nbsp; Patel made the comments after being asked by Sen. Darline Graham (R-SC) at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing what he sees as the top domestic security threat... <a href="">Read More</a>

Fatema Al Harbi on joining Noa Tishby’s campus tour to combat extremism in the Middle East

Growing up in Bahrain, Fatema Al Harbi absorbed years of anti-Israel propaganda, but she says the mood in her home country has since shifted markedly, with ordinary citizens no longer seeing Israel as the Middle East’s foremost threat — a distinction they now assign to Iran.&nbsp; Now serving as Gulf affairs director for Sharaka, an... <a href="">Read More</a>