Daily Kickoff
Trump says Iran should write the U.S. a thank you letter on Mosul offensive: “The leaders that we wanted to get are all gone because they’re smart. They say, what do we need this for? So Mosul is going to be a wonderful thing. And Iran should write us a letter of thank you, just like the really stupid — the stupidest deal of all time, a deal that’s going to give Iran absolutely nuclear weapons. Iran should write us yet another letter saying thank you very much, because Iran, as I said many years ago, Iran is taking over Iraq, something they’ve wanted to do forever, but we’ve made it so easy for them. So we’re now going to take Mosul. And do you know who’s going to be the beneficiary? Iran.” [CNN]
Trump singled out Justice Ruth Ginsburg: “Something happened recently where Justice Ginsburg made some very, very inappropriate statements toward me and toward a tremendous number of people, many, many millions of people that I represent. And she was forced to apologize. And apologize she did. But these were statements that should never, ever have been made.”
–– and George Soros: “And all of her donors — just about all of them — I know Buffett took hundreds of millions of dollars, Soros, George Soros, took hundreds of millions of dollars… Most of her donors have done the same thing as I do.”
HOW IT PLAYED: Debate stunner: Trump won’t say he’ll accept election result [AP] • Some Undecided Voters Turn On Donald Trump Over ‘Rigged’ Claims [WSJ] • Debate Swerves From Policy to Personal Attacks [NYTimes] • Trump claims Iran will ‘absolutely’ get the bomb on an otherwise Israel-free night[JPost] • During debates, Clinton’s weakness was defending her positions [WashPost] • Eli Lake: Trump’s Reliance on WikiLeaks Discredits His Case Against Clinton [Bloomberg] • John Podhoretz: Donald Trump just ceded the presidency to Hillary Clinton [NYPost]
EARLIER YESTERDAY — “Ivanka Trump: I expect my father to concede if he loses” by Ben Kamisar: “My father is in this to win it, and I’m not interested in talking about alternative outcomes. Of course, my father will always do the right thing, that’s the kind of person he is,” Ivanka Trump said during an interview with Time magazine’s Nancy Gibbs during Wednesday’s Fortune Most Powerful Women Summit. “He’ll either win or he won’t win, and I believe he’ll accept the outcome either way.” [TheHill;TIME]
Bret Stephens: “Trump’s answer on accepting the outcome of the vote is the most disgraceful statement by a presidential candidate in 160 years.” [Twitter]
Ari Fleischer: “My favorite outcome: Trump wins by 2 electoral votes. Democrats call on Electoral College to vote Hillary. 1 elector switches. Trump sues. Supreme Court votes 4-4. Race goes to House. House deadlocks. It’s 1/20/17. No POTUS. Obama leaves. Ryan becomes POTUS.” [Twitter]
Teddy Schleifer: “Before the debate, Trump and his family sat down for lunch today at his hotel with Sheldon Adelson, Miriam Adelson and Foster Friess.” [Twitter]
“Inside Team Trump’s Vegas Afterparty” by Olivia Nuzzi: “Boris Epshteyn is a senior adviser to Donald Trump’s presidential campaign and late Wednesday evening, after the debate, he stood at the head of a long table in the half-empty restaurant of the Trump International Hotel here, drinking and eating jovially with the rest of the staff. But Epshteyn and his dining companions understand that their presence in Las Vegas in late October 2016, 6.5 points behind Clinton nationally on average, is a miracle in itself—he was never supposed to get this far, and neither were they. Every night until Nov. 8 might as well be New Year’s Eve.” [DailyBeast]
“Netanyahu: If Israel Doesn’t Act Wisely Ahead of End of Obama’s Term, We May Endanger Entire Settlement Enterprise” by Barak Ravid and Yotam Berger: “The prime minister described the time between the U.S. presidential election on November 8 and the inauguration of a new president on January 20 as a particularly sensitive period, the source said. Citing examples of actions taken by previous lame-duck presidents during this period, Netanyahu warned that Israel must avoid making mistakes during those 10 weeks. “We need to act wisely, and you, of all people, ought to understand that,” the source quoted Netanyahu as saying. The Prime Minister’s Office said Netanyahu warned the settlers during this meeting that other U.S. presidents have used the end of their terms to advance initiatives contrary to Israel’s interests. “The prime minister added that he hopes this won’t happen again, and he expects the U.S. not to change its traditional policy of the last several decades and to prevent anti-Israel resolutions at the UN Security Council,” a PMO spokesperson added.” [Haaretz;JerusalemOnline]
More Podesta emails — Podesta reassured his daughter that Hillary would be better for Israel than Obama was: “Obama developed a real feud with Bibi, but she has been a staunch defender of Israel since her Senate days. Probably her very best supporters are Haim Saban, and Danny Abraham who would not be with her if she wasn’t totally committed to Israeli security.” [05-12-2015]
Jake Sullivan following Netanyahu’s pre-election comment against the two-state solution:“She is for a two-state solution and thinks the status quo is unsustainable. She had dozens of hours of convos with Bibi where he not only supported a two-state solution but actively negotiated to bring it about.” [03-18-2015]
Sullivan to Podesta: “She just called to say she thinks she needs to say something, even something modest, on Israel. She is not out publicly for quite some time, so no easy way to build into preexisting event. Two Q’s / first, do you agree, and second, any thoughts on how she might do this? – could be an interview with a friendly reporter (do those exist?) – could be something written, but I’m skeptical – could be a call she makes to someone that she reads out – thoughts?” [03-25-2015]
Elan Kriegel re: the Jewish Journal’s poll of U.S. Jews on the Iran deal: “As a Jewish person who supports the deal, I hope this poll is correct, but the way it was conducted was a little strange and I wouldn’t take too much stock in it considering some other factors *The way the poll was conducted* – They don’t seem to ask about when the respondent was last at synagogue or what type of Judaism they practice — which is strange – The way they found Jewish people was by taking a sample of people who have told them they are Jewish in other polls. I’m not sure they are weighting this to the actual Jewish population *Other considerations* – Many Rabbis are pretty upset with the deal — and, with respect to issues involving Israel, Rabbis will generally use their pulpit to discuss issues involving Israel. – Since this is summer, attendance at synagogue is particularly low, but I imagine that when fall comes around (specifically the High Holidays) this will flair up again.”
— Oren Shur, Director of Paid Media: “Yes, I didn’t appropriately account for the annual high holiday saber rattle (or is that a shofar?) – silly me.” [07-26-2015]
“Trump to address Jerusalem rally” by Gil Hoffman: “Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump will speak via satellite next Wednesday to a rally for the unity of Jerusalem that the Republican Party in Israel will sponsor on the roof of the Aish HaTorah building overlooking the Western Wall. The rally came in response to the scandal involving UNESCO’s decision about Jerusalem.” [JPost]
Trump to Israel Hayom: “I think it’s incredible what’s happening with Israel and a lot of it has to do with [U.S. President Barack] Obama, because it’s just incredible that the relationship, I’ve never seen this before with Israel, from almost every point it’s negative. How anybody who loves Israel can support Hillary Clinton or Obama is beyond me, that I can tell you. It’s beyond me. I have people, I don’t call them friends because they’re not supporting, you know, I don’t call them friends, but I have people that I know very well that are supporting Hillary Clinton, I say, just out of curiosity, they, they love Israel, why? And they don’t even know, they can’t even give me an answer.” [IsraelHayom]
Ambassador Dan Shapiro: “I think we are all going to be relieved when these elections are over.”[INN]
“Casino Mogul Sheldon Adelson Tells Trump to Dial It Down” by Brian Schwartz and Charlie Gasparino: “The billionaire casino magnate recently sent an e-mail to Trump advising the GOP candidate to stop attacking Republicans he has feuded with during the increasingly contentious presidential run, and lay off what Adelson considers counter-productive attacks on the media. Instead, Adelson wrote in the e-mail that Trump should focus on major political issues that he believes could help him narrow what appears to be a growing polling gap with his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton… “Trump doesn’t listen to anyone—not even his family or Steve Bannon,” Adelson told one associate who spoke to FOX Business in reference to Trump’s new campaign manager. “I like Trump less and less,” Adelson said, according to this person.” [FoxBusiness]
Steve Wynn on holding back support of Trump: “I respect Sheldon Adelson a lot, but he is black and white a Republican. I’m more of a guy that plays the face. I’ve been been a registered Democrat, I’ve supported probably as many Republicans as Democrats. I’m a proponent of a more efficient government.”[FoxNews]
“Twitter’s anti-Semitism problem” by Ryan Lizza: “Only a fifth of the anti-Semitic accounts studied by the A.D.L. were suspended. “It is notable that they did suspend twenty-one per cent of the accounts,” Jonathan A. Greenblatt, the A.D.L.’s C.E.O., told me. “But there are seventy-nine per cent that they didn’t. It validates what I have heard from journalist after journalist, and others who have found themselves victimized: oftentimes the companies, and in particular Twitter, have not done enough.” Jeffrey Goldberg, the new editor of the Atlantic, is on the list of journalists who are most attacked on the service. “I can’t say that I’m not pleased,” he joked. “I mean, I finally made a top-ten list.” But he has stopped using the service as much as he once did, partly because of the unrelenting attacks.”[Newyorker]
“The Jewish, female vice-presidential candidate who may be on your US ballot” by Lahav Harkov: “Finn called her Judaism an important part of her life… In this election, like many Jewish Trump opponents, Finn has experienced antisemitism firsthand, particularly on social media… Finn said racism, including antisemitism, has simmered under the surface in the US, but Trump’s rhetoric has created a climate in which such sentiments can be expressed more openly. “These isms have been normalized in the public sphere. It’s not even specifically antisemitism; just the notion that you can discriminate based on race or religion has been normalized. I think it’s a real threat…and leaders who don’t stand up and denounce that kind of rhetoric are complicit,” Finn said.” [JPost]
“‘You’re practically crying!’ Joe Scarborough and Bill Kristol get heated” by Callum Borchers: “The former GOP congressman got into a heated argument with Weekly Standard editor Bill Kristol, who suggested “Morning Joe” enabled the eventual nominee early in the campaign. “This show was really tough on Trump in late 2015 and early 2016,” Kristol said, his remark dripping with sarcasm. “Please don’t come on my air and lie,” Scarborough replied. And the fight was on. Scarborough: ‘I can’t even believe you’re doing this. I don’t know why you’re so bitter.’ Kristol: ‘I’m not bitter.’ Scarborough: ‘You’re practically crying! You’re practically crying!’ Kristol: ‘I am upset about this election. That’s right, Joe. ‘Cuz you think it’s amusing that Donald Trump is the nominee.'” [WashPost]
KAFE KNESSET — Bibi Against the Broadcast Authority — by Amir Tibon & Tal Shalev: It’s not Jewish holiday season in Israel if there isn’t at least one political drama that disrupts the celebrations. This year, the big fight is over the fate of the new Israeli Broadcast Authority, which seems to be faltering just as it comes to life. The initiative to create a new, modern, non-partisan broadcast authority for Israel has been under discussion for years. In 2014, then-Communications Minister Gilad Erdan (Likud) finally manged to pass a detailed plan to replace Israel’s old and crumbling broadcast authority. Yet after the 2015 election, when Prime Minister Netanyahu decided to keep the Communications Ministry to himself, things took a different turn. Now, it seems, Netanyahu is on the verge of burying the plan – despite the fact that – or perhaps because – hundreds of journalists have already been recruited to the new broadcast service.
Under the current plan, the government will have very little influence over the new broadcast authority. That’s why one of Netanyahu’s most loyal supporters in the Likud faction, MK David Bitan, is pushing forward a proposal to scrap the new, independent public broadcast, and instead stick with the current version. To make things even uglier, yesterday Israel’s Channel 10 reported that as part of this power struggle, people close to Netanyahu gave a “black list” to the managers of the new broadcast authority, containing the names of journalists critical of the Prime Minister and a “white list” of journalists favorable to him. The managers of the new broadcast authority rejected the lists, which according to the report, was the main reason Netanyahu finally decided to scrap the whole thing altogether. The Prime Minister’s Office denied such contact took place between them and the new broadcast authority, but the end result seems clear, either way.
SCENE LAST NIGHT — from a JI reader in Jerusalem: A dinner was held in honor of the dedication of the new Jay and Jeanie Schottenstein National Campus for the Archaeology of Israel with guests from the US, UK, Monaco, etc. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the gathering and focused his remarks on the recent UNESCO controversy. Notable attendees included Karen Davidson, Gretchen Davidson, Ralph Gerson, Erica Gerson, Dorothy Gerson, Stephanie Gerson, Eli Saulson, Isaac Saulson, Darin McKeever, and Ashley Crain. [Pic]
“Who are the Samaritans and why is their future uncertain?” — “Samaritan attempts to distinguish themselves from both Jews and Palestinians makes sense given the febrile politics of the region. But it can also cause problems. As of 2015, only 777 Samaritans remain. Their gene pool is dangerously shallow. Young Samaritans have converted to Judaism in order to marry, since the religion prohibits unions with outsiders. Moreover, becoming a Samaritan is a big commitment.” [Economist]
SPORTS BLINK: “A Hasidic rabbi outside Wrigley Field teaches Cubs fans how to bless their team” by Aimee Levitt: “Rabbi Boruch Hertz, an emissary of the Lubavitch Chabad, built a sukkah across the street from Wrigley Field and encouraged everyone, but especially Jews, to come in and pray with him… Hertz was outside Wrigley during the infamous Steve Bartman game, though he claims no responsibility for what happened inside the ballpark; he was more pleased by the fans who lined up for a chance to recite a blessing and then shake the lulav (a wand of tree branches) and etrog (a citron). Rabbi Dovid Kotlarsky, Hertz’s son-in-law, took up the mantle of the Rebbe of Wrigleyville at the beginning of last season, when he moved to Chicago from Brooklyn. “For many people,” Kotlarsky said, “the Cubs are personal, and they want to pray for the Cubs’ success. So before you say ‘Amen,’ you can insert a short ‘Go Cubs, God bless the Cubs.’ “” [ChicagoReader]
BIRTHDAYS: Poet, essayist and literary critic, who has taught at Wellesley College, UC Berkeley and Boston University, Robert Pinsky turns 76… Music composer for many films, winner of six Grammys and an Emmy Award, Thomas Newman turns 61… United States Senator from Hawaii, following 8 years as a Congressman and two years as Lieutenant Governor of Hawaii, Brian Schatz turns 44… Classical violinist and a 2008 winner of a MacArthur genius fellowship, Leila Josefowicz turns 39… Evan Zuckerman turns 27…
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