Nexus In The News
Significant news articles that mention Nexus, including Op-Ed articles written by Nexus Board Members and Advisors.
Project 2025’s Other Project
Opinion: Trump’s claim of fighting antisemitism at UCLA is a dangerous charade
Most American Jews say Trump is using antisemitism as an 'excuse' to silence free speech at universities
GOP Rep. Nancy Mace to Jewish progressive: ‘I have a good surgeon if you ever want to get your nose done’,
After GOP Rep. Nancy Mace made a hateful comment to Jewish Congresswoman Sara Jacobs reflecting antisemitic stereotypes, the Nexus Project swiftly condemned Mace’s remark, calling on Mace and all members of Congress to refrain from “antisemitic, schoolyard bullying about [Mace’s] Jewish colleagues’ noses generally, and especially in a post about respecting women’s bodies.”
UCLA’s Jewish community unites against Trump’s $1-billion demand: ‘Misguided and punitive’
Professor David Myers, a Nexus Project Task Force member and professor of Jewish history at the University of California, Los Angeles, highlighted that universities settling litigation related to antisemitism claims with the Trump administration could set a “dangerous” precedent. Myers told the Los Angeles Times
GOP probes UCSF on claims of ‘hostile environment’ for Jewish students
After House Republicans requested that three universities produce detailed documentation of their responses to allegations of antisemitic behavior on their campuses, Nexus National Director Jonathan Jacoby warned that the Trump administration was once again using antisemitism as a guise for cracking down on civil liberties.
A pro-Palestinian activist came to Oakland to practice medicine. An outrage campaign followed
Nexus Project’s Washington Director Kevin Rachlin spoke with the San Francisco Chronicle about Project Esther and other organizations that dangerously weaponize antisemitism to target free speech and harass students on college campuses. While Project Esther has gained the most recognition, Rachlin shared: “Project Esther is actually stealing from [Canary Mission, Accuracy in Media, Physicians Against Antisemitism]. They were doing these doxxing campaigns first.”
American Jewish support for Israel is cracking. Occupying Gaza may break it
After Prime Minister Netanyahu’s announcement of a planned Israeli occupation of Gaza City, The Forward reported on perceptions among American Jews toward the war. Nexus Project National Director Jonathan Jacoby warned that Israeli military action can have negative repercussions for American Jews, “When Israel takes over Gaza, kills innocent people, starves babies and kills journalists, it creates conditions that lead to violence against Jews.” He continued, “I
American Jews’ Support for Israel Is Near Its Breaking Point
The New Republic reported on waning support for the ongoing war in Gaza among American Jews, particularly following reports of mass starvation of Gaza. Nexus National Director Jonathan Jacoby spoke on the trend saying, “This is more than a crisis in the relationship between Israel and American Jews. It’s a turning point. And nobody really knows in which direction we’re headed.”
After Boulder attack, American Jews are afraid
Professor Joshua Shanes, a Nexus Project Task Force member and professor of Jewish history at the University of California, Davis, spoke to JTA about antisemitic conspiracy theories related to the Jeffrey Epstein files. He shared: “Whenever you have this notion of collectivizing all Jews as this global nefarious force, that’s the most dangerous thing. It’s not about Israel, per se. It’s about this global Jewish conspiracy. And
What is Project Esther? Unpacking the effort to curb pro-Palestine activism
Investigative reporting outlet Snopes reported on Project Esther, a blueprint for silencing pro-Palestinian protests under the guise of countering antisemitism. The article extensively cited Nexus Project’s analysis on Project Esther, stating that though the project claims to be a strategy to combat antisemitism, it blurs “the line between legitimate protest and hate speech, while simultaneously ignoring and obscuring right-wing antisemitism.”
Trump’s Student Arrests, and the Lawsuit Fighting Them, Tread New Ground
As a Boston court weighed the legality of the Trump administration’s efforts to deport foreign students involved in pro-Palestinian activism, Nexus Project National Director Jonathan Jacoby spoke with The New York Times about how the White House’s campus policies reflect Project Esther, a Heritage Foundation blueprint for silencing pro-Palestinian protestors under the guise of countering antisemitism. Jacoby said: “These are examples of the Trump administration weaponizing legitimate
To appease Trump and retain grants, UC bars student governments from boycotting Israel
The San Francisco Chronicle reported on measures universities are taking to avoid retribution over their handling of antisemitism by the Trump administration. The article highlights Nexus Project’s work as an antisemitism watchdog, and Nexus’ concerns that the Trump administration is exploiting “false accusations of antisemitism for political gain.”
Federal pressure on Harvard over antisemitism echoes conservative attacks on higher ed
After the Trump administration told Harvard University it violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act over antisemitism on campus
About That New York Times Editorial
The New York Times’ June 14, 2025, editorial on antisemitism made some important points. It called attention to the significant surge in antisemitism and the importance of calling it out. It accurately noted that “the political right, including President Trump, deserves substantial blame” for rising antisemitism, including Trump’s use of antisemitism for political purposes and his normalization of hatred.
Jewish groups in US line up to oppose Trump anti-Semitism strategy
Nexus Washington Director spoke to AFP about Project Esther and attacks on higher education institutions, “[t]here is anti-Semitism on those campuses… But to give the broad claim that the thrust to fight anti-Semitism is to go after higher education is just absolutely ridiculous.” Rachlin continued, “We as Jews are safer when we’re in coalition with other groups and other minorities.”
How Oct. 7 has changed antisemitic attacks in the U.S.
Nexus Washington Director Kevin Rachlin told The Washington Post, “since Trump came [into office, the Trump administration is] weaponizing Jewish fear to advance a very specific agenda.” Rachlin noted that the Trump administrations endanger Jewish Americans, questioning, “What will you do to protect us? Shutting down and defunding schools, deporting people? That doesn’t protect Jews.”
After Boulder attack, American Jews are afraid
In the wake of the violent attack on Jewish and Israeli advocates in Boulder, Colorado, Jonathan Jacoby, National Director of the Nexus Project told Religion News Service, “there’s a correlation between the violence in Gaza and the violence against Jews,” noting that when there is a major military operation in Gaza which leads to Palestinian casualties, there is a pattern of “surges of antisemitic incidents and hate
The Group Behind Project 2025 Has a Plan to Crush the Pro-Palestinian Movement
The New York Times published an investigative article on the Heritage Foundation’s Project Esther, a divisive plan to counter antisemitism on college campuses that laid the groundwork for deporting students and defunding universities. Nexus National Director Jonathan Jacoby was quoted saying, “Project Esther changed the paradigm by associating anyone who opposes Israeli policies with the ‘Hamas Support Network.’ It’s no longer about ideology or politics; it’s about
The Coming Jewish Civil War Over Donald Trump
Nexus National Director Jonathan Jacoby highlighted Nexus Project’s report, “Fighting Antisemitism, Protecting Democracy: A Strategy for the Trump Era,” stating that “[the Trump administration] cannot exploit our fear for your nefarious purposes. We will not let you destroy our democracy in our name. We will not let you endanger our community, and the communities of disadvantaged groups and of other minorities, and ultimately, all Americans, in our
Progressive Jewish groups oppose Antisemitism Awareness Act ahead of Senate vote
The Nexus Project and 10 progressive Jewish organizations signed onto a joint letter opposing the Antisemitism Awareness Act, stating the legislation would “represent an endorsement of the Trump Administration’s escalating efforts to weaponize antisemitism as a pretext for undermining civil rights, deporting political dissidents, and attacking the fundamental pillars of our democracy.”
Trump Fires Doug Emhoff, Other Biden Appointees From U.S. Holocaust Memorial Council
Following President Trump’s targeted firings of Democratic nominees to the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum Board of Directors, Nexus said, “the Holocaust Museum, of all places, should not be used by the president as a vehicle for retribution.”
Harvard antisemitism and Islamophobia task forces find widespread fear, bigotry
Nexus National Director Jonathan Jacoby told Reuters, “By taking a strong stand against antisemitism and Islamophobia without criminalizing dissent and the right to peaceful protest, the report demonstrates what we know: combating antisemitism and protecting democratic freedoms go hand-in-hand.”
The Antisemitism Awareness Act Is Back
Jonathan Jacoby, National Director of the Nexus Project, a nonprofit dedicated to combating antisemitism, discussed the dangers of codifying the IHRA definition, or any other definition” of antisemitism. Jacoby told Moment Magazine that the Antisemitism Awareness Act (AAA) “goes hand in hand with the Trump administration’s strategy of using accusations of antisemitism as a pretext for undermining educational and democratic institutions.”
Jewish people fear scapegoating as Trump invokes antisemitism to justify crackdowns
Axios reported on measures to monitor immigrants’ social media for alleged antisemitic content, which could be used to justify deportations. Jonathan Jacoby told Axios, “Using vague language like ‘terrorist sympathizer’ to target and punish immigrants will not combat antisemitism or make Jews any safer…The Trump administration continues to exploit our community’s concerns to unfairly target others – all while elevating and engaging in antisemitism themselves.”
U.S. Gov’t Says Immigrants May Face Visa Denial Over ‘Antisemitic’ Social Media Posts
Nexus National Director Jonathan Jacoby told Haaretz, “The Trump administration continues to exploit our community’s concerns to unfairly target others – all while elevating and engaging in antisemitism themselves,” following U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announcing it would begin to monitor immigrants’ social media for alleged antisemitic comments, including critiques of the ongoing war in Gaza.
Trump administration to screen social media activity of immigrants
Jonathan Jacoby told the Boston Globe the new USCIS policy weaponizes antisemitism as a pretext for deporting immigrants. He “criticized McLaughlin’s use of the term ‘terrorist sympathizer’ as ‘vague’ and said using it ‘to target and punish immigrants will not combat antisemitism or make Jews any safer…The administration continues to exploit our community’s concerns to unfairly target others – all while elevating and engaging in antisemitism themselves.’”
Most American Jews say Trump is using antisemitism as an ‘excuse’ to silence free speech at universities
A newly released Impose poll conducted in collaboration with the University of California, Berkeley and the University of Rochester, showed that 72% of Jewish Americans are concerned about antisemitism on campus and nearly 60% disapprove of the Trump administration’s decision to withhold federal funding from Harvard and UCLA over allegations of antisemitism.
GOP Rep. Nancy Mace to Jewish progressive: ‘I have a good surgeon if you ever want to get your nose done’,
After GOP Rep. Nancy Mace made a hateful comment to Jewish Congresswoman Sara Jacobs reflecting antisemitic stereotypes, the Nexus Project swiftly condemned Mace’s remark, calling on Mace and all members of Congress to refrain from “antisemitic, schoolyard bullying about [Mace’s] Jewish colleagues’ noses generally, and especially in a post about respecting women’s bodies.”
UCLA’s Jewish community unites against Trump’s $1-billion demand: ‘Misguided and punitive’
Professor David Myers, a Nexus Project Task Force member and professor of Jewish history at the University of California, Los Angeles, highlighted that universities settling litigation related to antisemitism claims with the Trump administration could set a “dangerous” precedent. Myers told the Los Angeles Times
GOP probes UCSF on claims of ‘hostile environment’ for Jewish students
After House Republicans requested that three universities produce detailed documentation of their responses to allegations of antisemitic behavior on their campuses, Nexus National Director Jonathan Jacoby warned that the Trump administration was once again using antisemitism as a guise for cracking down on civil liberties.
A pro-Palestinian activist came to Oakland to practice medicine. An outrage campaign followed
Nexus Project’s Washington Director Kevin Rachlin spoke with the San Francisco Chronicle about Project Esther and other organizations that dangerously weaponize antisemitism to target free speech and harass students on college campuses. While Project Esther has gained the most recognition, Rachlin shared: “Project Esther is actually stealing from [Canary Mission, Accuracy in Media, Physicians Against Antisemitism]. They were doing these doxxing campaigns first.”
Opinion: Trump’s claim of fighting antisemitism at UCLA is a dangerous charade
Professor David Myers, a Nexus Project Task Force member and professor of Jewish history at the University of California, Los Angeles, co-wrote an op-ed for the LA Times calling the Trump administration’s lawsuits around antisemitism on college campuses a “dangerous charade.” After the Trump administration announced it would suspend $584 million in federal research grants to UCLA, Myers wrote the suspension is a “shallow and disingenuous plot
American Jewish support for Israel is cracking. Occupying Gaza may break it
After Prime Minister Netanyahu’s announcement of a planned Israeli occupation of Gaza City, The Forward reported on perceptions among American Jews toward the war. Nexus Project National Director Jonathan Jacoby warned that Israeli military action can have negative repercussions for American Jews, “When Israel takes over Gaza, kills innocent people, starves babies and kills journalists, it creates conditions that lead to violence against Jews.” He continued, “I
American Jews’ Support for Israel Is Near Its Breaking Point
The New Republic reported on waning support for the ongoing war in Gaza among American Jews, particularly following reports of mass starvation of Gaza. Nexus National Director Jonathan Jacoby spoke on the trend saying, “This is more than a crisis in the relationship between Israel and American Jews. It’s a turning point. And nobody really knows in which direction we’re headed.”
After Boulder attack, American Jews are afraid
Professor Joshua Shanes, a Nexus Project Task Force member and professor of Jewish history at the University of California, Davis, spoke to JTA about antisemitic conspiracy theories related to the Jeffrey Epstein files. He shared: “Whenever you have this notion of collectivizing all Jews as this global nefarious force, that’s the most dangerous thing. It’s not about Israel, per se. It’s about this global Jewish conspiracy. And
What is Project Esther? Unpacking the effort to curb pro-Palestine activism
Investigative reporting outlet Snopes reported on Project Esther, a blueprint for silencing pro-Palestinian protests under the guise of countering antisemitism. The article extensively cited Nexus Project’s analysis on Project Esther, stating that though the project claims to be a strategy to combat antisemitism, it blurs “the line between legitimate protest and hate speech, while simultaneously ignoring and obscuring right-wing antisemitism.”
Trump’s Student Arrests, and the Lawsuit Fighting Them, Tread New Ground
As a Boston court weighed the legality of the Trump administration’s efforts to deport foreign students involved in pro-Palestinian activism, Nexus Project National Director Jonathan Jacoby spoke with The New York Times about how the White House’s campus policies reflect Project Esther, a Heritage Foundation blueprint for silencing pro-Palestinian protestors under the guise of countering antisemitism. Jacoby said: “These are examples of the Trump administration weaponizing legitimate
Project 2025’s Other Project
The New York Times’ podcast, The Daily, released an episode discussing Project Esther, a blueprint developed by the Heritage Foundation, and embraced by the Trump administration, that laid the groundwork for deporting pro-Palestinian students under the guise of combating antisemitism.
To appease Trump and retain grants, UC bars student governments from boycotting Israel
The San Francisco Chronicle reported on measures universities are taking to avoid retribution over their handling of antisemitism by the Trump administration. The article highlights Nexus Project’s work as an antisemitism watchdog, and Nexus’ concerns that the Trump administration is exploiting “false accusations of antisemitism for political gain.”
Federal pressure on Harvard over antisemitism echoes conservative attacks on higher ed
After the Trump administration told Harvard University it violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act over antisemitism on campus
About That New York Times Editorial
The New York Times’ June 14, 2025, editorial on antisemitism made some important points. It called attention to the significant surge in antisemitism and the importance of calling it out. It accurately noted that “the political right, including President Trump, deserves substantial blame” for rising antisemitism, including Trump’s use of antisemitism for political purposes and his normalization of hatred.
Jewish groups in US line up to oppose Trump anti-Semitism strategy
Nexus Washington Director spoke to AFP about Project Esther and attacks on higher education institutions, “[t]here is anti-Semitism on those campuses… But to give the broad claim that the thrust to fight anti-Semitism is to go after higher education is just absolutely ridiculous.” Rachlin continued, “We as Jews are safer when we’re in coalition with other groups and other minorities.”
How Oct. 7 has changed antisemitic attacks in the U.S.
Nexus Washington Director Kevin Rachlin told The Washington Post, “since Trump came [into office, the Trump administration is] weaponizing Jewish fear to advance a very specific agenda.” Rachlin noted that the Trump administrations endanger Jewish Americans, questioning, “What will you do to protect us? Shutting down and defunding schools, deporting people? That doesn’t protect Jews.”
After Boulder attack, American Jews are afraid
In the wake of the violent attack on Jewish and Israeli advocates in Boulder, Colorado, Jonathan Jacoby, National Director of the Nexus Project told Religion News Service, “there’s a correlation between the violence in Gaza and the violence against Jews,” noting that when there is a major military operation in Gaza which leads to Palestinian casualties, there is a pattern of “surges of antisemitic incidents and hate
The Group Behind Project 2025 Has a Plan to Crush the Pro-Palestinian Movement
The New York Times published an investigative article on the Heritage Foundation’s Project Esther, a divisive plan to counter antisemitism on college campuses that laid the groundwork for deporting students and defunding universities. Nexus National Director Jonathan Jacoby was quoted saying, “Project Esther changed the paradigm by associating anyone who opposes Israeli policies with the ‘Hamas Support Network.’ It’s no longer about ideology or politics; it’s about
The Coming Jewish Civil War Over Donald Trump
Nexus National Director Jonathan Jacoby highlighted Nexus Project’s report, “Fighting Antisemitism, Protecting Democracy: A Strategy for the Trump Era,” stating that “[the Trump administration] cannot exploit our fear for your nefarious purposes. We will not let you destroy our democracy in our name. We will not let you endanger our community, and the communities of disadvantaged groups and of other minorities, and ultimately, all Americans, in our
Progressive Jewish groups oppose Antisemitism Awareness Act ahead of Senate vote
The Nexus Project and 10 progressive Jewish organizations signed onto a joint letter opposing the Antisemitism Awareness Act, stating the legislation would “represent an endorsement of the Trump Administration’s escalating efforts to weaponize antisemitism as a pretext for undermining civil rights, deporting political dissidents, and attacking the fundamental pillars of our democracy.”
Trump Fires Doug Emhoff, Other Biden Appointees From U.S. Holocaust Memorial Council
Following President Trump’s targeted firings of Democratic nominees to the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum Board of Directors, Nexus said, “the Holocaust Museum, of all places, should not be used by the president as a vehicle for retribution.”
Harvard antisemitism and Islamophobia task forces find widespread fear, bigotry
Nexus National Director Jonathan Jacoby told Reuters, “By taking a strong stand against antisemitism and Islamophobia without criminalizing dissent and the right to peaceful protest, the report demonstrates what we know: combating antisemitism and protecting democratic freedoms go hand-in-hand.”
The Antisemitism Awareness Act Is Back
Jonathan Jacoby, National Director of the Nexus Project, a nonprofit dedicated to combating antisemitism, discussed the dangers of codifying the IHRA definition, or any other definition” of antisemitism. Jacoby told Moment Magazine that the Antisemitism Awareness Act (AAA) “goes hand in hand with the Trump administration’s strategy of using accusations of antisemitism as a pretext for undermining educational and democratic institutions.”