It's not an easy time to be a pro-peace, pro-two state solution Jew. On one hand, you've been fighting against Bibi and his increasingly right wing, anti-peace, settler-expanding, democracy-challenging government for years, and now he's the leader at the top of the effort to protect Israel and free the hostages. On the other hand, you've had to experience the rabid, relentless rise of antisemitism, chiefly exemplified in the uninformed (and often stupid), protests of fellow progressives that have somehow progressed past calls for Israel to show military restraint to protect civilians in Gaza into the bizarro support of a terrorist organization turned death cult; a social movement that has turned Hamas into a symbol of peace fighters, instead of viewing them as what they are, a murderous, blood-thirsty organization that has worked to decapitate peace (often by decapitating Jews) at every turn, uses citizens as human shields, and is preventing people from moving to safe areas and preventing Americans from leaving Gaza. Of course, I'm thinking of this from the perspective of an American Jew whose parents survived the Holocaust. My anger and anguish is nothing compared to those whose loved ones have been kidnapped by Hamas. Many, many of the families impacted by the October 7 massacre had spent their lives working for peace and equality in a region that self-assured American campus protesters have never visited and might have a hard time finding on a map. And of course, it’s also nothing compared to the families of innocent Palestinians who have gone from living under the thumb of Hamas to living and dying under a storm of bombs. 2Shock and UAW"Details of the GM deal were not announced, but sources said the UAW won the same package of wage increases it agreed at the other two automakers, which raises top pay for veteran workers by 33%." UAW reaches deal with GM, ending strike against Detroit automakers. 3Today's P.E. Class"In 2000, private-equity firms managed about 4 percent of total U.S. corporate equity. By 2021, that number was closer to 20 percent. In other words, private equity has been growing nearly five times faster than the U.S. economy as a whole." The Atlantic (Gift Article): The Secretive Industry Devouring the U.S. Economy. 4Cereal Killer"It wasn’t always like this. Once upon a time, a cereal box — perhaps featuring a cartoonish mascot, or maybe your favorite Olympic athlete — dominated the breakfast table. But cereal’s decline has been long and steep — and a table isn’t even in the picture. Its demise hit an inflection point in 2016, when a study showed that millennials were eschewing it because they simply couldn’t be bothered to wash the bowl and spoon. The category has fallen even further, with post-pandemic sales tanking, particularly because younger customers are no longer yoked to those milk-doused bowls." WaPo (Gift Article): Why breakfast sandwiches rise and shine as cereal keeps losing steam. These days I’m a single issue voter. So I made a t-shirt to reflect that issue. Get yours today. 5Extra, ExtraPetty Theft: "Some retail analysts and researchers, bolstered by local crime statistics, say stores may be over-stating the extent and impact of theft. Why? It’s a useful deflection, camouflaging weak demand, mismanagement and other issues denting business right now. And it forces lawmakers to respond." Chains are using theft to mask other issues, report says. 6Bottom of the NewsNate Bargatze is a very well known touring comedian, but he's not SNL famous. At least not until Saturday night when he hosted the show. He was solid during his opening monologue, and I loved the skit about George Washington's dream for America. Get a copy of my 📕, Please Scream Inside Your Heart, or grab a 👕 in the Store.
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