@mbalter — investigations and commentary
@mbalter
Journalist/journo prof. Publisher: “The Croton Chronicle” https://thecrotonchronicle.substack.com/ and “Words for the Wise” http://michaelbalter.substack.com
Israeli leaders say clearly that they are committing genocide in #Gaza. We should take them at their word. Israel is committing the sin of chillul hashem, the desecration of God's name. open.substack.com/pub/michaelbal…
Opinion | How Zohran Mamdani Answers, ‘Where Are You From?’ - The New York Times nytimes.com/2025/07/25/opi…
Opinion: Mamdani’s test on policing - City & State New York cityandstateny.com/politics/2025/…
This commentary mentions Bret Stephens’s opinion piece in the @nytimes arguing that Israel was not committing #genocide, which raises the question of whether the Times has even minimum standards of reasoning ability for its columnists. #Gaza michaelbalter.substack.com/p/israeli-lead…
Exclusive: Schumer probes $50 billion rural hospital "slush fund" axios.com/2025/07/25/sch…
New Yorkers for Affordable Groceries groceryaffordability.nyc
"The cancellation of @colbertlateshow without clear explanation is deeply concerning and raises serious questions about the broader implications for free expression and artistic freedom." SEE OUR FULL STATEMENT BELOW:
JUST IN: A federal judge has thrown out the Trump administration’s lawsuit against Illinois, Chicago and Gov. Pritzker over the state’s sanctuary policies, saying it’s an effort to encroach on state sovereignty. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.usco…
It may well be that Hamas-and others-have stolen aid. But this is a good reminder to be skeptical of pundits who simply repeat Israeli govt talking points: "An internal U.S. government analysis found no evidence of systematic theft of U.S.-funded humanitarian supplies by Hamas in…
As Bernie Sanders campaigns against “oligarchy,” the data shows half of wealth concentration in the U.S. over the past dozen or so years has benefited just 19 families. rollingstone.com/politics/polit…
Is this Gaza’s ‘bomb the tracks’ moment? With Gaza’s annihilation in plain sight, the question is what can compel global intervention to end Israel's genocide — and what form it will take. By @MikeOmerMan: 972mag.com/gaza-genocide-…
Wisconsin's governor was well-positioned to win a third term. Instead, he cleared the way for a new generation of Democrats to run. Others should take note. thenation.com/article/politi…
The Paramount-Skydance saga "reeks of Orbanism." That's the assessment of @GScheiring, who experienced Viktor Orbán's autocratic power plays in Hungary firsthand as a member of the Hungarian parliament.
Fern Press to publish Omer Bartov’s 'urgent and incisive' new book on Israel thebookseller.com/rights/fern-pr…
🧵 Let’s talk about the lie that “the aid is there, but the UN won’t distribute it.” Here’s what’s actually happening at the Gaza border — and why Palestinians are still starving.
They might be suddenly telling the truth about Gaza, but they still aren't telling the truth about Israel.
Why is British corporate media suddenly telling the truth about Gaza?
I wonder if leaders will ever admit that smearing all protests to stop the genocide actually contributed to the genocide. Will there ever be that level of self reflection and honesty or are we just going to get fake surprise like this after mass death.
Aid organizations report that thousands of children in Gaza are at risk of starvation while trucks full of food sit waiting across the border. The full flow of humanitarian assistance must be restored immediately. news.un.org/en/story/2025/…
An israeli air strike blows off a Palestinian child’s arm while he was seeking refuge in Qahira School, sheltering displaced families in Gaza