The Nexus Project Newsletter

Welcome to another edition of the Nexus Project newsletter.

In the past two weeks, antisemitism and its weaponization have shown up in starkly different ways. When it comes to true antisemitism, we’ve seen a Holocaust museum defaced with swastikas, and a Twitch streamer went viral for calling Jewish identity “demonic.” And we’re seeing the federal government continue to use its power to stifle dissent by weaponizing antisemitism. From Brown University to UCLA, the attack on academics continues unabated.

What ties these stories together is a dangerous pattern. Real antisemitism is increasing, but in new ways. And simultaneously, the federal government is accelerating its use of antisemitism accusations to stifle dissent.

We are working tirelessly to separate real antisemitism from when it’s weaponized. Read below to learn more.

Understanding Antisemitism

How Twitch became an antisemitism pipeline, and why digital platforms matter

With the growing fragmentation of the online media ecosystem, it is easy to overlook or completely miss incredibly impactful forms of hate spread in other digital ecosystems. A prime example is streaming, where an influencer broadcasts live video content on platforms like Twitch to an audience. It may seem minor, but some of these influencers have a massive impact.

Take left-wing political streamer Mike from PA. Recently, he told his viewers that “Jewish is not an ethnicity” and called Jewish identity a “demonic ethnicity, wholly invented.” The clip went viral.

His account is not in any sense minor. It averages nearly 400,000 hours watched monthly, rivaling small cable networks.

Leaders and organizations must keep an eye on streaming, where hate can often spread like wildfire. Streamers build parasocial relationships that outpace traditional media in creating intimacy and influence among younger audiences. Read more in our recent analysis on the subject.

Trump’s Brown University Deal Misses the Mark on Antisemitism

In a sharp MSNBC op-ed, Nexus Fellow Emily Tamkin explains why the Trump administration’s agreement with Brown University, supposedly meant to protect Jewish students, actually puts them at greater risk.

The deal bans race-conscious admissions while promoting a narrow, politicized view of Jewish identity. As Tamkin writes, it does three things: it cuts antisemitism off from the broader context of racism and xenophobia; it sends a message that only Jewish concerns matter, isolating Jews from other marginalized groups; and it imposes a rigid, pro-Israel lens on what Jewish identity should mean.

What’s presented as protection is actually a blueprint for erasing solidarity, distorting Jewish identity, and undermining inclusive education.

Antisemitism in the News

Weaponization: Trump administration freezes UCLA research

The attack on academia continues. The administration froze $200 million in UCLA science and medical research funding, citing antisemitism concerns. As we saw with Brown, Columbia, and Harvard, this is part of the Trump administration’s continued efforts to target higher education by using Jewish concerns as their shields. Again, it will make Jews less safe while empowering authoritarianism.

Antisemitism: Oregon Jewish Museum vandalized with swastikas

The Oregon Jewish Museum was defaced with approximately six swastikas last week. This despicable antisemitic act should be unequivocally condemned, representing the kind of real antisemitism that gets obscured when the term is weaponized for political purposes.

Nexus in the News

Jonathan Jacoby in The New Republic on the American Jewish Divide

There is little doubt this is one of the most challenging times in American Jewish history. We are not only divided as a people, we are struggling with our very identities. In an in-depth exploration of this moment, The New Republic turned to our National Director, Jonathan Jacoby, for his thoughts.

In Jonathan’s words, “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.”

Snopes Breaks Down Project Esther, Relying Heavily on Nexus

A new Snopes investigation unpacks Project Esther, The Heritage Foundation’s plan to equate pro-Palestinian activism with antisemitism and push aggressive policy responses nationwide.

Framed as a national strategy to fight antisemitism, the report calls for banning student groups, purging school curricula, revoking visas, and cracking down on protests. As Snopes notes, many of its proposals are already being implemented under Trump.

Snopes extensively cited our own recent explainer of Project Esther, in which we break down the way it is one of the most dangerous recent iterations of the federal government weaponizing antisemitism to attack democracy.

Support Nexus

For more information about Nexus, go to our website: www.nexusproject.us.

We’ll continue offering clear responses, frameworks, and resources as these stories develop.