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'A New World Is Possible': NJ Voters Elect Progressive, Pro-Palestinian Organizer Analilia Mejia

https://news.abolish.capital/post/43182

'A New World Is Possible': NJ Voters Elect Progressive, Pro-Palestinian Organizer Analilia Mejia - Abolish Capital!

[https://www.commondreams.org/media-library/analilia-mejia.png?id=65564631&width=1200&height=400&coordinates=0%2C235%2C0%2C403] Two months after her primary victory was declared [https://www.commondreams.org/news/analilia-mejia-bernie-sanders] a sign that progressive advocates for the working class can win elections “everywhere” in the US, organizer Analilia Mejia easily won [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/16/nyregion/analilia-mejia-joe-hathaway-congress-nj.html?smtyp=cur] a special election in New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District on Thursday after a campaign dominated by big spending by the pro-Israel lobby. Mejia, an organizer who worked on Sen. Bernie Sanders’ (I-Vt.) 2020 presidential campaign and has served as executive director of the New Jersey Working Families Alliance, was outspoken in her support [https://www.analiliafornj.com/economy-for-everyone] for expanding the Medicare program to the entire US population through the Medicare for All Act, abolishing US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, canceling student debt, and breaking up corporate monopolies. “In one of the richest nations in the world, middle-class families, working-class families, should not find themselves falling behind in greater and greater debt, while billionaires consolidate their stranglehold on every aspect of our economy,” said Mejia in her victory speech. The race was called by The Associated Press within minutes of polls closing Thursday night. With 94% of votes tallied as of early Friday afternoon [https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2026/us/elections/results-new-jersey-us-house-11-special.html], Mejia was nearly 20 points ahead of her opponent, Republican Joe Hathaway. Despite the resounding victory, Hathaway insisted [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/16/nyregion/analilia-mejia-joe-hathaway-congress-nj.html?smtyp=cur] in his concession speech that the “broader electorate” is not enthusiastic about "the kind of far-left policies embraced by Ms. Mejia.” Journalist Ryan Grim of Drop Site News noted [https://x.com/ryangrim/status/2044971287534047633] that, as with other races in which progressives have challenged more moderate Democrats like former Rep. Tom Malinowski, whom Mejia ran against in the primary, “the argument was that candidates like Mejia couldn’t win this district.” Mejia is one of several progressive Democrats also running in the 2026 midterm elections, in which the Democratic Party is hoping to take control of at least one chamber of Congress to weaken President Donald Trump’s grip on the federal government. In Maine, political newcomer Graham Platner [https://www.commondreams.org/news/graham-platner-vs-susan-collins], a combat veteran and advocate for a billionaire’s minimum tax, is running against Democratic Gov. Janet Mills in the primary; Mills was pushed [https://www.commondreams.org/news/maine-senate] by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) to join the race. In Michigan, a new poll [https://emersoncollegepolling.com/michigan-2026-poll-abdul-el-sayed-mallory-mcmorrow-tied-for-lead-in-democratic-senate-primary/] from Emerson College this week showed Medicare for All advocate Abdul El-Sayed statistically tied with state Sen. Mallory McMorrow (D-8); El-Sayed was eight points ahead of where he was in the same survey in January, following sustained attacks [https://www.commondreams.org/news/michigan-senate-primary] by McMorrow and a centrist group over his decision to campaign with an outspoken critic of Israel. The result in New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District, said Grim, “suggests a new world is possible.” In addition to pushing for policies to improve the lives of working New Jersey families, Mejia was the only candidate in the Democratic primary election in February who publicly stated that Israel’s US-backed assault on Gaza is a genocide. Journalist Zaid Jilani noted that—with public support [https://www.commondreams.org/news/israel-us-voters-poll] for Israel plummeting, including among Jewish voters [https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/10/06/jewish-americans-israel-poll-gaza/], as it wages war on Gaza, Iran, and Lebanon—Mejia’s position didn’t prevent largely Jewish communities in the 11th District from supporting her. Hathaway accused Mejia of being antisemitic over her criticism of Israel’s assault on Gaza, an allegation she vehemently rejected during a debate. “As a member of Congress, I would use every legislative power at my disposal to protect the rights of Jewish constituents and convene spaces to educate and to fight antisemitism, because I know it’s real,” she said [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/16/nyregion/analilia-mejia-joe-hathaway-congress-nj.html?smtyp=cur]. During the primary, the United Democracy Project, a super political action committee aligned with the powerful pro-Israel lobby group the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, focused its attention [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/16/nyregion/analilia-mejia-joe-hathaway-congress-nj.html?smtyp=cur] on Malinowski, attacking the longtime supporter of Israel for his criticism of far-right Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The group’s spending against Malinowski appeared to backfire, benefiting Mejia, who has been more outspoken in her objections to Israel’s violent policies. Mejia was elected to fill the seat left vacant by Gov. Mikie Sherrill, also a Democrat, for the next eight months. She has already entered the race for the November election, and Hathaway has signaled he plans to run as well. The progressive advocacy group Our Revolution said [https://x.com/OurRevolution/status/2044932085157138712] that by electing Mejia to represent the 11th District, voters “chose people over corporations.” “They chose to send an organizer to Congress,” said the group, “to fight for radical change and build a better Democratic Party.” — From Common Dreams [https://www.commondreams.org/feeds/news.rss] via This RSS Feed [https://www.commondreams.org/feeds/news.rss].

rss 8m ago

House Judiciary Investigating Jared Kushner’s Investments From Saudi Arabia

https://news.abolish.capital/post/43181

House Judiciary Investigating Jared Kushner’s Investments From Saudi Arabia - Abolish Capital!

The ranking Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee on Friday morning announced a “sweeping” probe into alleged self-enrichment by Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of US President Donald Trump who has served as a high-profile White House envoy in the Middle East while also, according to Congressman Jamie Raskin, “soliciting billions of dollars from Gulf monarchies for [his] private business… Source [https://truthout.org/articles/house-judiciary-investigating-jared-kushners-investments-from-saudi-arabia/] — From Truthout [https://truthout.org/feed/?withoutcomments=1] via This RSS Feed [https://truthout.org/feed/?withoutcomments=1].

rss 10m ago

Ex-MI5 employee ‘sectioned indefinitely’ after ‘leaking secrets’ to foreign power

https://news.abolish.capital/post/43180

Ex-MI5 employee ‘sectioned indefinitely’ after ‘leaking secrets’ to foreign power - Abolish Capital!

MI5 [https://www.thecanary.co/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Untitled-design-6-28-720x540.png] A former MI5 worker will be sectioned indefinitely, a court has decided. Jurors heard how he leaked secrets to an unnamed foreign state. Juan Joseph, an IT worker for the UK’s internal security agency, reportedly emailed secret information during a mental health episode. The National reported [https://archive.ph/EvEhl#selection-1645.14-1645.165] that Joseph: > even travelled overseas attempting to arrange a meeting at an embassy there as he pursued a complaint against MI5. The paper said: > Jurors at the Old Bailey took less than an hour to find Joseph not guilty by reason of insanity after a week-long trial. Joseph is being held indefinitely [https://archive.ph/EvEhl#selection-1645.14-1645.165] under: > under sections 37 and 41 of the Mental Health Act at a disposal hearing at the Old Bailey. The accused made a range of claims against MI5: > about racist treatment and “highly disturbing” claims, including rape, child abuse, and torture, jurors were told. The National reported [https://archive.ph/EvEhl#selection-1645.14-1645.165] that these claims were “unfounded”. Closed door trials ------------------ The judge ordered [https://archive.ph/EvEhl#selection-1645.14-1645.165] the trial to be held behind closed doors: > in the absence of the public and press to “avoid the risk of damage to national security”. The National reported: > Before the jury were invited to retire to consider their verdicts, they were told that experts agreed the defendant was in the grip of mental illness to the extent that Joseph did not think he was doing anything wrong. The details of the case [https://archive.ph/EvEhl#selection-1645.14-1645.165] that have emerged into the public domain are remarkable: > Joseph also claimed a swastika had been put up in the office and he was injected with a hypodermic needle containing something that made him “very poorly” while at Thames House, MI5’s headquarters. > > He made contact with the foreign state in 2024 after a bid to bring a private prosecution for assault in 2019 was rejected. Joseph also applied to the High Court for a judicial review > and began copying an email linked to the foreign state in to his communications. The court heard [https://archive.ph/EvEhl#selection-1645.14-1645.165] that Joseph flew to Latvia in 2024 and attempted to contact a foreign embassy there. He was arrested on his return to Gatwick and refused to give up his passwords saying he was an MI5 officer. > On January 13 2025, Joseph copied in a foreign state in another email complaining about his treatment by police at Gatwick Airport. > > On his arrest at an Ibis Hotel on January 30 2025, he maintained he was an “armed MI5 officer” and a lock knife was found in his pocket. A search of his home later turned up: > a homemade card falsely identify him as an MI5 officer. He also claimed [https://archive.ph/EvEhl#selection-1645.14-1645.165] in a police interview to be an MI5 spy and protested his innocence while claiming to have passed a lie detector test. At one point, Joseph claimed to be: > a black belt in taekwondo with training in ninja-style knife and sword techniques at Thames House and was allowed to carry a blade for “defence”. The court acquitted Joseph of all charges on grounds of “insanity”. He will remain in Broadmoor hospital indefinitely. He was arrested in 2022 on similar charges. The Brits increasingly use secretive trials. As the Justice Gap reported [https://www.thejusticegap.com/in-the-dark-secret-evidence-and-the-uk-courts/] in 2020, the practice of Closed Material Proceedings: > may relate to minutes of discussions between government officials and the security services. Often, it pertains to sensitive or classified intelligence information/evidence gathered and relied on by the security services (MI5, MI6, GCHQ). Adding > Intelligence has naturally evolved over the years as technology has advanced, but it might include: human sources, intercepted communications, surveillance techniques, or location intelligence. Joseph reportedly [https://archive.ph/EvEhl#selection-1645.14-1645.165] worked in IT in various roles over a decade. MI5 was recently found to have lied in court in a separate case involving a machete-wielding Neo-Nazi agent [https://www.thecanary.co/uk/analysis/2026/03/17/mi5-abuse/] who fantasised about eating children. MI5 compensated one of his victims. The service eventually apologised, but only after their wrongdoing was exposed. Featured image via the Canary By Joe Glenton [https://www.thecanary.co/author/joeglenton/] — From Canary [https://www.thecanary.co/feed] via This RSS Feed [https://www.thecanary.co/feed].

rss 10m ago

Fuel price protests in Ireland: Ecosocialism or barbarism

https://news.abolish.capital/post/43179

Fuel price protests in Ireland: Ecosocialism or barbarism - Abolish Capital!

Ecosocialism or Barbarism [https://mronline.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/oil.jpg] Clara McCormack assesses the nature of the fuel protests that brought the country to a standstill for a week, arguing that we need to broaden the protests into a wider fight on the cost-of-living crisis. — From MR Online [https://mronline.org/feed/] via This RSS Feed [https://mronline.org/feed/].

rss 12m ago

OMB Head Russ Vought Refuses to Provide Financial Estimates on Iran War Costs

https://news.abolish.capital/post/43178

OMB Head Russ Vought Refuses to Provide Financial Estimates on Iran War Costs - Abolish Capital!

Testifying before both houses of Congress on Wednesday, Office of Management and Budget (OMB) head Russ Vought refused to provide lawmakers with estimates of how much the war on Iran is costing the U.S. financially. Vought — one of the main proponents of Project 2025, the Heritage Foundation-backed blueprint for how President Donald Trump should run the government that was published and… Source [https://truthout.org/articles/omb-head-russ-vought-refuses-to-provide-financial-estimates-on-iran-war-costs/] — From Truthout [https://truthout.org/feed/?withoutcomments=1] via This RSS Feed [https://truthout.org/feed/?withoutcomments=1].

rss 14m ago

Israeli PM's office to boost funding for supremacist 'Jerusalem Day' marches

https://news.abolish.capital/post/43177

Israeli PM's office to boost funding for supremacist 'Jerusalem Day' marches - Abolish Capital!

Religious nationalist Jews parade through mixed towns, chanting ‘Death to Arabs’ to celebrate the conquest of Jerusalem — From thecradle.co [https://thecradle.co/feed] via This RSS Feed [https://thecradle.co/feed].

rss 16m ago

The memoir of a London Recruit

https://news.abolish.capital/post/43176

The memoir of a London Recruit - Abolish Capital!

JOHN GREEN relishes the record of a life well lived in the service of the fight for justice and socialism — From Morning Star [https://morningstaronline.co.uk/rss.xml] via This RSS Feed [https://morningstaronline.co.uk/rss.xml].

rss 18m ago

The War on Iran Has Further Weakened the Bond Between the U.S. and Israel

https://news.abolish.capital/post/43175

The War on Iran Has Further Weakened the Bond Between the U.S. and Israel - Abolish Capital!

There are times when international perceptions shift slowly. And then there are breaking points. What’s happening with Israel falls into the latter category. For decades, U.S. support for Israel had withstood wars, occupations, and constant denunciations from international organizations. It was a virtually untouchable ally, protected by an exceptional bipartisan consensus. But something has cracked. This time, visibly. The most recent episode in the U.S. Senate confirms this. On Wednesday, an initiative championed by Bernie Sanders sought to block the sale of 1,000-pound bombs and armored bulldozers to the Israeli army. The resolutions failed. But the truly relevant fact was not the formal outcome, but what it revealed. For the first time in years, a significant majority of Democrats broke ranks with the Party’s unquestioned support for Israel. Specifically, 40 of the 47 Democratic senators opposed the provision of bulldozers, and 36 of 47 opposed the shipment of bombs. Moreover, no Democratic senator with presidential aspirations supported the arms transfer. While official policy may not change immediately, the political message is hard to ignore: Washington’s internal support for Israel is no longer to be taken for granted. This institutional breakdown did not emerge in a vacuum. It is the expression of a deeper erosion that has been accumulating since 2003. The war on Gaza — with tens of thousands of deaths — was the trigger. Then came the direct involvement in the escalation against Iran and the continued operations in Lebanon, where millions have now been displaced and thousands killed. Taken together, these episodes have fueled a growing perception: that Benjamin Netanyahu’s government is no longer acting in self-defense, but increasingly as an aggressive agent of territorial expansion and regional instability. This shift is clearly reflected in public opinion. For the first time in decades, the majority of the United States public no longer has sympathy for Israel. A recent Gallup poll indicates that 41% of Americans feel closer to the Palestinians, compared to 39% who support Israel. The difference is narrow, but its significance is profound: the historical balance has been reversed. In 2001, Israel held a 35-point advantage, and for more than two decades, it remained stable. The trend is confirmed by other data also. According to the Pew Research Center, 60% of Americans now hold an unfavorable view of Israel, compared to 53% a year ago and nearly 40% just four years ago. This represents a 20-point increase in an exceptionally short period. The breakdown is even more revealing: 80% of Democratic supporters express a negative view, but the phenomenon also extends to the Republican electorate, where 57% of adults under 60 disapprove of Israel. The divide is primarily generational. Among young people aged 18 to 29, rejection reaches 75% in the general population, 85% among Democrats, and 64% among Republicans. Even in historically pro-Israel groups, such as white evangelicals, younger generations show much lower levels of support than their elders. There is no longer any clearly aligned segment of youth who still support Israel. And this fact, rather than describing the present, foreshadows the future. For years, U.S. support for Israel rested on a combination of factors: strategic alliances, political affinities, and a narrative reinforced after 9/11, which tended to homogenize perceptions of the Middle East. That framework is now breaking down. Newer generations have witnessed another war: the devastation in Gaza, in real time. It’s not just an ideological issue. It’s also visual and emotional. Images of mass destruction, bombings in densely populated areas, and trapped civilians have eroded the traditional narrative. And they have done so persistently. Even among sectors that don’t adopt radical positions, doubts are growing about whether Israel’s actions are driven by shared interests or whether, on the contrary, they are dragging the United States into conflicts that are not its own. This is where criticisms from different sources unexpectedly converge. On the Left, the questioning revolves around human rights. In the Republican camp, especially among sectors linked to the MAGA movement, another criticism emerges: the idea that Israel drags the United States into conflicts that do not directly serve its interests. Influential figures within the conservative ecosystem, such as Tucker Carlson and Steve Bannon, have contributed to establishing a discourse that combines isolationism, distrust of traditional alliances, and, in some cases, a drift toward conspiracy theories. The result is a profound transformation: Israel has ceased to be a unifying force in American politics and has become a point of division. The debate over military aid — unquestioned for decades — is becoming a dividing line. The $38 billion assistance memorandum through 2028 no longer seems untouchable, and voices are beginning to emerge that are suggesting changing or even completely overhauling it. However, the paradox is evident. On the military front, cooperation between the two countries remains close and highly sophisticated. But this technical link coexists with an increasingly profound political and social erosion. Because the real damage isn’t in a single vote or an isolated poll. It’s in the progressive loss of a stable base of support within American society. If current trends continue, Israel could face, in the near future, an unprecedented new reality: the absence of solid and lasting political backing from both parties. In that scenario, the damage ceases to be collateral. It becomes structural. And, unlike the immediate effects of war, its consequences will be more lasting, redefining not only the relationship between the United States and Israel, but also the Middle East’s place in Washington’s global policy. This article was originally published in Spanish on April 16 in La Izquierda Diario. [https://www.laizquierdadiario.com/Un-dano-no-colateral-de-la-guerra-la-erosion-del-vinculo-entre-Israel-y-Estados-Unidos] The post The War on Iran Has Further Weakened the Bond Between the U.S. and Israel [https://www.leftvoice.org/the-war-on-iran-has-further-weakened-the-bond-between-the-u-s-and-israel/] appeared first on Left Voice [https://www.leftvoice.org/]. — From Left Voice [https://www.leftvoice.org/feed] via This RSS Feed [https://www.leftvoice.org/feed].

rss 20m ago

Pressure mounts on PM to resign over Mandelson appointment

https://news.abolish.capital/post/43174

Pressure mounts on PM to resign over Mandelson appointment - Abolish Capital!

PRESSURE mounted on Sir Keir Starmer to resign today as backbenchers joined opposition parties saying the PM must have been aware Lord Peter Mandelson had failed vetting before appointing him US ambassador. The Labour leader said it was “unforgivable” that he was not told that the Foreign Office had overruled the UK Security Vetting team’s recommendation not to clear the so-called “Prince of Darkness” for the post. “That I wasn’t told that Peter Mandelson had failed security vetting when he was appointed is staggering,” the PM said. — From Morning Star [https://morningstaronline.co.uk/rss.xml] via This RSS Feed [https://morningstaronline.co.uk/rss.xml].

rss 20m ago

War on Iran: – Closing the Red Sea

https://news.abolish.capital/post/43173

War on Iran: – Closing the Red Sea - Abolish Capital!

Red Sea [https://mronline.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot-2026-04-17-at-95510-AM.png] Only an immediate end of the conflict can prevent the worst of it. — From MR Online [https://mronline.org/feed/] via This RSS Feed [https://mronline.org/feed/].