Debra Shushan
@drshushan.bsky.social
Middle East policy. Senior Resident Affiliate, Georgetown Center for Jewish Civilization. Yale PhD. Former J Street Director of Policy. Subscribe to The Debrief with Debra Shushan https://drshushan.substack.com/
MAYOR-ELECT MAMDANI! I'm excited & honored to host Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum, the highest profile rabbi in NYC to endorse & campaign for Mamdani, for this important conversation. Today at 12pm Eastern. See link on graphic. Join us!
November 5, 2025 at 3:44 PM
MAYOR-ELECT MAMDANI! I'm excited & honored to host Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum, the highest profile rabbi in NYC to endorse & campaign for Mamdani, for this important conversation. Today at 12pm Eastern. See link on graphic. Join us!
My latest, on @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social. Featuring some of my favorite Jewish folks including: @bradlander.bsky.social & @giligetz.bsky.social. Link in comments.
October 31, 2025 at 1:59 PM
My latest, on @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social. Featuring some of my favorite Jewish folks including: @bradlander.bsky.social & @giligetz.bsky.social. Link in comments.
I asked NYC Comptroller @bradlander.bsky.social to share his message to fellow New Yorkers Senator Chuck Schumer and Congressman Hakeem Jeffries, who have failed to endorse Democratic primary winner @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social for mayor. They should hear what he has to say:
October 22, 2025 at 3:53 PM
I asked NYC Comptroller @bradlander.bsky.social to share his message to fellow New Yorkers Senator Chuck Schumer and Congressman Hakeem Jeffries, who have failed to endorse Democratic primary winner @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social for mayor. They should hear what he has to say:
@zohrankmamdani.bsky.social has reached out broadly to NYC's Jewish community, says @bradlander.bsky.social, NYC's Comptroller & highest-ranking Jewish official. However, Cuomo & Sliwa are not called to account for ignoring NYC's 1-million strong Muslim population.
Link to full convo in comments.
Link to full convo in comments.
October 21, 2025 at 1:36 PM
@zohrankmamdani.bsky.social has reached out broadly to NYC's Jewish community, says @bradlander.bsky.social, NYC's Comptroller & highest-ranking Jewish official. However, Cuomo & Sliwa are not called to account for ignoring NYC's 1-million strong Muslim population.
Link to full convo in comments.
Link to full convo in comments.
Tomorrow at 10:30am ET:
On the second anniversary of October 7, join May Pundak and Rula Hardal of A Land for All and me to talk about a vision “grounded in dignity, equality, and belonging for both peoples" that provides more hope for Israel-Palestine than the Trump plan. Link in comments.
On the second anniversary of October 7, join May Pundak and Rula Hardal of A Land for All and me to talk about a vision “grounded in dignity, equality, and belonging for both peoples" that provides more hope for Israel-Palestine than the Trump plan. Link in comments.
October 6, 2025 at 6:21 PM
Tomorrow at 10:30am ET:
On the second anniversary of October 7, join May Pundak and Rula Hardal of A Land for All and me to talk about a vision “grounded in dignity, equality, and belonging for both peoples" that provides more hope for Israel-Palestine than the Trump plan. Link in comments.
On the second anniversary of October 7, join May Pundak and Rula Hardal of A Land for All and me to talk about a vision “grounded in dignity, equality, and belonging for both peoples" that provides more hope for Israel-Palestine than the Trump plan. Link in comments.
“America showed undue deference to Israel, excessive bias vs Palestinians, a constant desire to exert regional supremacy… How much more and how much better Americans could have done w/ much less”
I'll ask Rob Malley about his and Hussein Agha's indictment of US Middle East policy and more. Tune in!
I'll ask Rob Malley about his and Hussein Agha's indictment of US Middle East policy and more. Tune in!
September 25, 2025 at 1:46 PM
“America showed undue deference to Israel, excessive bias vs Palestinians, a constant desire to exert regional supremacy… How much more and how much better Americans could have done w/ much less”
I'll ask Rob Malley about his and Hussein Agha's indictment of US Middle East policy and more. Tune in!
I'll ask Rob Malley about his and Hussein Agha's indictment of US Middle East policy and more. Tune in!
I asked Rula Daood, Co-Director of @standing-together.bsky.social (a grassroots Jewish-Arab political movement fighting for peace, equality, and social justice in Israel-Palestine), how she responds when other Palestinians criticize her for working closely with Jewish Israelis. Her reply:
September 10, 2025 at 5:35 PM
I asked Rula Daood, Co-Director of @standing-together.bsky.social (a grassroots Jewish-Arab political movement fighting for peace, equality, and social justice in Israel-Palestine), how she responds when other Palestinians criticize her for working closely with Jewish Israelis. Her reply:
Prefacing his candor about convos with senior Biden Administration officials - including Jake Sullivan and VP Kamala Harris - on Gaza, @jjz1600.bsky.social said, said, "I'm going to be 80... and therefore don't give a s---."
Watch our full discussion, or listen to the podcast. Link in comments.
Watch our full discussion, or listen to the podcast. Link in comments.
September 5, 2025 at 2:20 PM
Prefacing his candor about convos with senior Biden Administration officials - including Jake Sullivan and VP Kamala Harris - on Gaza, @jjz1600.bsky.social said, said, "I'm going to be 80... and therefore don't give a s---."
Watch our full discussion, or listen to the podcast. Link in comments.
Watch our full discussion, or listen to the podcast. Link in comments.
Looking forward to hosting Jim Zogby @jjz1600.bsky.social of @aaiusa.bsky.social to discuss: "Where Is the Democratic Party Going on Israel-Palestine?" We'll also talk about public opinion & political mobilization in the Arab American community.
Join us tomorrow at 1pm ET & subscribe to The Debrief
Join us tomorrow at 1pm ET & subscribe to The Debrief
September 3, 2025 at 5:29 PM
Looking forward to hosting Jim Zogby @jjz1600.bsky.social of @aaiusa.bsky.social to discuss: "Where Is the Democratic Party Going on Israel-Palestine?" We'll also talk about public opinion & political mobilization in the Arab American community.
Join us tomorrow at 1pm ET & subscribe to The Debrief
Join us tomorrow at 1pm ET & subscribe to The Debrief
I'm grateful to @saribashi.bsky.social for a rich, thoughtful conversation yesterday. Here, Sari talks about how her world became smaller after October 7 -- when she discovered how “selective” the values of some people she cared about actually were.
August 26, 2025 at 4:35 PM
I'm grateful to @saribashi.bsky.social for a rich, thoughtful conversation yesterday. Here, Sari talks about how her world became smaller after October 7 -- when she discovered how “selective” the values of some people she cared about actually were.
TODAY @ 1pm ET: The brilliant and accomplished Israeli-American human rights lawyer @saribashi.bsky.social, who lives in the West Bank with her Palestinian husband (from Gaza) and their 2 kids, joins The Debrief to share her perspective and her Israeli-Palestinian family's experience. Come & learn!
August 25, 2025 at 2:52 PM
TODAY @ 1pm ET: The brilliant and accomplished Israeli-American human rights lawyer @saribashi.bsky.social, who lives in the West Bank with her Palestinian husband (from Gaza) and their 2 kids, joins The Debrief to share her perspective and her Israeli-Palestinian family's experience. Come & learn!
Mariam Dagga, an AP freelancer and mother, was among the journalists killed in Israel's "double-tap" strikes on the Nasser Medical Complex in southern Gaza. In a "double-tap" strike, Israel bombs a facility once and then strikes again... after rescuers and journalists have raced in.
Four journalists were killed by an Israeli strike on a Gaza hospital today, including Mariam Dagga, a freelancer with the @apnews.com. She has a 12-year-old son, who was evacuated from Gaza earlier in the war.
She was a true hero, like all of our Palestinian colleagues in Gaza.
tinyurl.com/3cn5c9vb
She was a true hero, like all of our Palestinian colleagues in Gaza.
tinyurl.com/3cn5c9vb
Multiple journalists killed by Israeli strikes on Gaza hospital
A hospital strike in southern Gaza has killed at least eight people, including four journalists. The attack happened on Monday.
apnews.com
August 25, 2025 at 2:47 PM
Mariam Dagga, an AP freelancer and mother, was among the journalists killed in Israel's "double-tap" strikes on the Nasser Medical Complex in southern Gaza. In a "double-tap" strike, Israel bombs a facility once and then strikes again... after rescuers and journalists have raced in.
Fmr Knesset Speaker Avrum Burg on the All Its Citizens Party, which he co-chairs. “Is it hopeful? Yes. Is it optimism? Yeah. Is it naive? Yes. But since we tested all the cynical, practical... experiences of people who know it all, who brought us to this fu**ed up reality, give me a bit of naivete.”
August 17, 2025 at 10:09 PM
Fmr Knesset Speaker Avrum Burg on the All Its Citizens Party, which he co-chairs. “Is it hopeful? Yes. Is it optimism? Yeah. Is it naive? Yes. But since we tested all the cynical, practical... experiences of people who know it all, who brought us to this fu**ed up reality, give me a bit of naivete.”
I'll be speaking with singular Israeli political figure Avrum Burg tomorrow (yes, Sunday) at Noon Eastern / 7pm Jerusalem. More info + link in comments
August 16, 2025 at 7:44 PM
I'll be speaking with singular Israeli political figure Avrum Burg tomorrow (yes, Sunday) at Noon Eastern / 7pm Jerusalem. More info + link in comments
TODAY at 3pm Eastern on The Debrief: Join me and @elgindy.bsky.social to discuss "The Blindness of US policy toward Palestine & Israel"
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August 13, 2025 at 3:53 PM
TODAY at 3pm Eastern on The Debrief: Join me and @elgindy.bsky.social to discuss "The Blindness of US policy toward Palestine & Israel"
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In our conversation today on The Debrief, @taniahary.bsky.social of Israeli human rights organization Gisha describes poignantly how the Netanyahu government’s strategy of making Palestinians desperate to leave Gaza is working.
Link to video in comments
Link to video in comments
August 5, 2025 at 11:22 PM
In our conversation today on The Debrief, @taniahary.bsky.social of Israeli human rights organization Gisha describes poignantly how the Netanyahu government’s strategy of making Palestinians desperate to leave Gaza is working.
Link to video in comments
Link to video in comments
TODAY at 1pm Eastern - As the Israeli govt is moving toward "full occupation of the Gaza Strip," don't miss this urgent briefing with @taniahary.bsky.social of Gisha.
Link in comments.
Link in comments.
August 5, 2025 at 1:49 PM
TODAY at 1pm Eastern - As the Israeli govt is moving toward "full occupation of the Gaza Strip," don't miss this urgent briefing with @taniahary.bsky.social of Gisha.
Link in comments.
Link in comments.
@rabbijilljacobs.bsky.social: "The question is whether [Mamdani] is open to conversations w/ people w/ whom he might disagree. My experience is that he is… Ultimately the question should be not do we agree or not agree abt Israeli govt policy but how can we put in policies that will keep NYers safe"
[VIDEO] Rabbi Jill Jacobs of T'ruah live on The Debrief
Watch our conversation on Jews, Mamdani, and the NYC Mayoral Race; moral Jewish leadership on Israel-Palestine; and confronting authoritarianism at home
open.substack.com
August 4, 2025 at 10:40 PM
@rabbijilljacobs.bsky.social: "The question is whether [Mamdani] is open to conversations w/ people w/ whom he might disagree. My experience is that he is… Ultimately the question should be not do we agree or not agree abt Israeli govt policy but how can we put in policies that will keep NYers safe"
Today at 1pm EDT w/ @rabbijilljacobs.bsky.social
We'll cover Jews, Mamdani & the NYC mayoral race; the US Jewish community's response to starvation in Gaza; & Trump Admin's attacks on democracy & academic freedom in the name of fighting antisemitism.
Subscribe and tune in: drshushan.substack.com/
We'll cover Jews, Mamdani & the NYC mayoral race; the US Jewish community's response to starvation in Gaza; & Trump Admin's attacks on democracy & academic freedom in the name of fighting antisemitism.
Subscribe and tune in: drshushan.substack.com/
August 4, 2025 at 3:45 PM
Today at 1pm EDT w/ @rabbijilljacobs.bsky.social
We'll cover Jews, Mamdani & the NYC mayoral race; the US Jewish community's response to starvation in Gaza; & Trump Admin's attacks on democracy & academic freedom in the name of fighting antisemitism.
Subscribe and tune in: drshushan.substack.com/
We'll cover Jews, Mamdani & the NYC mayoral race; the US Jewish community's response to starvation in Gaza; & Trump Admin's attacks on democracy & academic freedom in the name of fighting antisemitism.
Subscribe and tune in: drshushan.substack.com/
Looking fwd to my conversation with @rabbijilljacobs.bsky.social on Monday! We'll discuss the NYC mayoral race & the Jewish community's response to starvation in Gaza.
Rabbi Jacobs was arrested this week, protesting at the Israeli consulate.
Subscribe & watch on The Debrief: drshushan.substack.com
Rabbi Jacobs was arrested this week, protesting at the Israeli consulate.
Subscribe & watch on The Debrief: drshushan.substack.com
August 1, 2025 at 2:38 PM
Looking fwd to my conversation with @rabbijilljacobs.bsky.social on Monday! We'll discuss the NYC mayoral race & the Jewish community's response to starvation in Gaza.
Rabbi Jacobs was arrested this week, protesting at the Israeli consulate.
Subscribe & watch on The Debrief: drshushan.substack.com
Rabbi Jacobs was arrested this week, protesting at the Israeli consulate.
Subscribe & watch on The Debrief: drshushan.substack.com
Reposted by Debra Shushan
"Genocide is not the Holocaust [but] the Holocaust was a genocide ... The Holocaust had its own unique aspect ... but in order to identify a genocide, you don't have to say 'this looks like the Holocaust'." Omer Bartov speaks with @drshushan.bsky.social on Substack.
substack.com/inbox/post/1...
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VIDEO RECORDING: Omer Bartov live with Debra Shushan on The Debrief
Watch my interview with the pre-eminent Holocaust scholar on Israel, Gaza, genocide, and where we go from here
substack.com
July 22, 2025 at 11:07 PM
"Genocide is not the Holocaust [but] the Holocaust was a genocide ... The Holocaust had its own unique aspect ... but in order to identify a genocide, you don't have to say 'this looks like the Holocaust'." Omer Bartov speaks with @drshushan.bsky.social on Substack.
substack.com/inbox/post/1...
substack.com/inbox/post/1...
For The Debrief's first live webinar, I spoke with pre-eminent Israeli-American Holocaust scholar Omer Bartov.
He explains his conclusion that Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians, why the "genocide" label is important, how Israel has changed since 10/7, and his hopes for the future.
He explains his conclusion that Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians, why the "genocide" label is important, how Israel has changed since 10/7, and his hopes for the future.
VIDEO RECORDING: Omer Bartov live with Debra Shushan on The Debrief
Watch my interview with the pre-eminent Holocaust scholar on Israel, Gaza, genocide, and where we go from here
drshushan.substack.com
July 21, 2025 at 11:27 PM
For The Debrief's first live webinar, I spoke with pre-eminent Israeli-American Holocaust scholar Omer Bartov.
He explains his conclusion that Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians, why the "genocide" label is important, how Israel has changed since 10/7, and his hopes for the future.
He explains his conclusion that Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians, why the "genocide" label is important, how Israel has changed since 10/7, and his hopes for the future.
'I'm a Genocide Scholar: I Know It When I See It': A Conversation on Israel and Gaza with Professor Omer Bartov
Live on Monday, July 21 at 1pm Eastern
Don't miss Omer Bartov and me on The Debrief with Debra Shushan!
Click for details.
Live on Monday, July 21 at 1pm Eastern
Don't miss Omer Bartov and me on The Debrief with Debra Shushan!
Click for details.
Is Israel Committing Genocide in Gaza? A Live Conversation with Israeli-American Holocaust Scholar Omer Bartov
Tune in on Monday, July 21 at 1pm Eastern for my first video conversation on The Debrief with Debra Shushan
open.substack.com
July 17, 2025 at 8:17 PM
'I'm a Genocide Scholar: I Know It When I See It': A Conversation on Israel and Gaza with Professor Omer Bartov
Live on Monday, July 21 at 1pm Eastern
Don't miss Omer Bartov and me on The Debrief with Debra Shushan!
Click for details.
Live on Monday, July 21 at 1pm Eastern
Don't miss Omer Bartov and me on The Debrief with Debra Shushan!
Click for details.
💯. What chutzpah!
Jews have no problem speaking for ourselves and - surprise! - we don't agree among ourselves on just about anything, much less Mamdani & the NYC mayoral race.
Jews have no problem speaking for ourselves and - surprise! - we don't agree among ourselves on just about anything, much less Mamdani & the NYC mayoral race.
Kind of weirded out by all of these non-Jewish politicians claiming to speak on behalf of the Jews, I have to say.
July 17, 2025 at 6:33 PM
💯. What chutzpah!
Jews have no problem speaking for ourselves and - surprise! - we don't agree among ourselves on just about anything, much less Mamdani & the NYC mayoral race.
Jews have no problem speaking for ourselves and - surprise! - we don't agree among ourselves on just about anything, much less Mamdani & the NYC mayoral race.
"This Arab Lawmaker Can’t Save the Remnants of Israel’s Democracy Alone":
My new Substack piece on AyOdeh's near expulsion from the Knesset, what it means for Israel’s deteriorating democracy, and the desperate need for Jewish-Palestinian solidarity
My new Substack piece on AyOdeh's near expulsion from the Knesset, what it means for Israel’s deteriorating democracy, and the desperate need for Jewish-Palestinian solidarity
This Arab Lawmaker Can’t Save the Remnants of Israel’s Democracy Alone
On the attempt to expel MK Ayman Odeh from the Knesset
open.substack.com
July 15, 2025 at 9:16 PM
"This Arab Lawmaker Can’t Save the Remnants of Israel’s Democracy Alone":
My new Substack piece on AyOdeh's near expulsion from the Knesset, what it means for Israel’s deteriorating democracy, and the desperate need for Jewish-Palestinian solidarity
My new Substack piece on AyOdeh's near expulsion from the Knesset, what it means for Israel’s deteriorating democracy, and the desperate need for Jewish-Palestinian solidarity