Blind support for Israel has muzzled Bari Weiss's Free Press

Photo byfor The Free Press
In the United States today, there are few more powerful or influential media start-ups than Bari Weiss's the Free Press. Founded in 2021 and run through Substack, the Free Press today boasts more than 750,000 subscribers, at least 100,000 of whom pay. Weiss, 41 and a former New York Times columnist, is a media mogul for the new age, and her reporters and columnists regularly publish pieces that are widely praised or reviled – either way, the work is rarely ignored. Weiss and her publication have been popular with those who resented the leftward cultural drift of the 2010s and craved a home for combative centrism.
Before Donald Trump returned to the White House, so-called heterodox intellectuals and writers were in the ascendancy, defending free expression against the excesses of the left. Weiss, their leader, denounced self-censorship and ideological conformity, and her news organisation's website vowed to uphold 'honesty, doggedness, and fierce independence'. The Free Press's site still reads: 'We always aim to highlight multiple perspectives on complicated subjects. And we don't allow ideology to stand in the way of searching for the truth.'
But that isn't true. Weiss's Free Press has one red line: Israel. The organisation is unapologetically hawkish and anti-Palestinian, and has little to say about the attacks on free expression the Trump administration has unleashed on pro-Palestinian activists. Whereas other prominent heterodox writers and publications have been willing to criticise the Trump administration and Benjamin Netanyahu's Israel, Weiss has stayed mum.
Weiss's values have been made plain – she once declared herself 'guilty as charged' to being a 'Zionist fanatic'. She seems to have little interest in rethinking a conflict that has led to the deaths of more than 50,000 Gazans. Recent evidence of the Free Press's propagandising includes a column by Michael Ames which declared war-torn Gaza wasn't at risk of a famine – though he concedes 'it was never in doubt that the Israel-Hamas war brought immense human suffering to Gaza, including from food shortages'. There is something insidious about squabbling over the definition of a 'famine' while referring to 'food shortages'. At the time, a total Israeli blockade of aid deliveries to Gaza was approaching its third month. Israel has since allowed small amounts of aid into the Strip, but distribution has been marred by chaos and shootings that have killed dozens of Palestinians.
Even centrist and conservative institutions have acknowledged the disaster that is unfolding in Gaza. Glenn Loury, the American economist who has long been a prominent voice among the heterodox elite, has come out against Israel's conduct in the war. So has Andrew Sullivan, the leading political commentator who has also railed against 'woke' (and Trump) a great deal over the last few years.
The Free Press stands apart. The greater question is how sustainable this will be. Weiss found her success speaking to disaffected liberals who believed that on cultural issues the Democratic Party had swerved too far left. The Free Press was a clearing house for readers who were anxious and aghast over the dominance of identity politics in academia, the media, and elsewhere; the audience demand was real, and business for Weiss boomed.
With the Democrats out of power and woke on the retreat, the Free Press's purpose grows less clear. It has relatively little to say about Trump's frontal assault on democratic institutions or his systematic violations of free speech. Meanwhile, its defence of the Israeli government holds little appeal for anyone who isn't a hardcore Republican or ardent Zionist. Neoconservatives have also found a home in the Free Press, which fills a niche but demonstrates how out of step the publication is with current trends. Fiscally conservative economics paired with muscular military interventions around the globe are not popular with Republicans or Democrats in America. Trump's ascension can be read, in part, as a repudiation of neoconservatism. Meanwhile, many of the Maga-curious independents who gave Trump another shot last year are drifting leftward again. The Trump chaos is too much to stomach. He has lost popularity faster than any president in modern times.
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Weiss's ideology has prevented her publication from adequately covering the failures of the new US administration. Weiss is blinded by her uncompromising support for the Israeli government. Netanyahu can do no wrong. To punish Hamas, all of Gaza must be punished, and there's seemingly no limit to the amount of suffering inflicted on civilians in retaliation for the 7 October attacks. It's hard to think of another recent war that has lacked such a sense of proportion. The ultra-religious, ethno-nationalist right wing governs Israel, and that is not going to change in the foreseeable future. Any commentator who cannot acknowledge that reality is lying to their audience or lying to themselves.
That is where Weiss and the Free Press have now gone. They cannot comprehend that Israel has abandoned all pretext of a two-state solution, that the annexation of the West Bank and ethnic cleansing in Gaza are Netanyahu's only goals, and that Israel may, in time, become a genuine pariah state – which would be disastrous for the Israelis themselves and do the Jewish diaspora, to which I belong, no favours.
Or the Free Press can comprehend all of this, and simply does not care.
[See also: Syria may be broken, but it's energised by hope]
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South Wales Argus

29 minutes ago

• South Wales Argus

US strikes three Iranian nuclear sites

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Mr Trump added in a later post that he would address the national audience at 10pm eastern time, writing: 'This is an HISTORIC MOMENT FOR THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, ISRAEL, AND THE WORLD. IRAN MUST NOW AGREE TO END THIS WAR. THANK YOU!' Trump said B-2 stealth bombers were used but did not specify which types of bombs were dropped. The White House and Pentagon did not immediately elaborate on the operation. The strikes are a perilous decision for the US as Iran has pledged to retaliate if it joined the Israeli assault, and for Mr Trump personally, having won the White House on the promise of keeping America out of costly foreign conflicts and scoffed at the value of American interventionism. Trump told reporters on Friday that he was not interested in sending ground forces into Iran, saying it's 'the last thing you want to do.' He had previously indicated that he would make a final choice over the course of two weeks, a timeline that seemed drawn out as the situation was evolving quickly. Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned the United States on Wednesday that strikes targeting the Islamic Republic will 'result in irreparable damage for them'. Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei declared 'any American intervention would be a recipe for an all-out war in the region'. Trump has vowed that he would not allow Iran to obtain a nuclear weapon and he had initially hoped that the threat of force would bring the country's leaders to give up its nuclear program peacefully. Israel 's military said Saturday it was preparing for the possibility of a lengthy war, while Iran's foreign minister warned before the U.S. attack that American military involvement 'would be very, very dangerous for everyone.' The prospect of a wider war threatened, too. Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen said they would resume attacks on U.S. vessels in the Red Sea if the Trump administration joins Israel's military campaign. The Houthis paused such attacks in May under a deal with the US. The US ambassador to Israel announced the US had begun 'assisted departure flights,' the first from Israel since the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023, that sparked the war in Gaza. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said at Thursday's press briefing that Trump had said: 'I will make my decision whether or not to go within the next two weeks.' Instead, the U.S. president struck just two days later. Trump appears to have made the calculation — at the prodding of Israeli officials and many Republican lawmakers — that Israel's operation had softened the ground and presented a perhaps unparalleled opportunity to set back Iran's nuclear program, perhaps permanently. The Israelis say their offensive has already crippled Iran's air defences, allowing them to already significantly degrade multiple Iranian nuclear sites. But to destroy the Fordo nuclear fuel enrichment plant, Israel appealed to Trump for US bunker-busting bomb, which uses its weight and sheer kinetic force to reach deeply buried targets and then explode. The penetrator is currently only delivered by the B-2 stealth bomber, which is only found in the American arsenal. The bomb carries a conventional warhead, and is believed to be able to penetrate about 200 feet (61 meters) below the surface before exploding, and the bombs can be dropped one after another, effectively drilling deeper and deeper with each successive blast. The International Atomic Energy Agency has confirmed that Iran is producing highly enriched uranium at Fordo, raising the possibility that nuclear material could be released into the area if the GBU-57 A/B were used to hit the facility. Previous Israeli strikes at another Iranian nuclear site, Natanz, on a centrifuge site have caused contamination only at the site itself, not the surrounding area, the IAEA has said. Mr Trump's decision for direct US military intervention comes after his administration made an unsuccessful two-month push — including with high-level, direct negotiations with the Iranians — aimed at persuading Tehran to curb its nuclear programme. For months, Mr Trump said he was dedicated to a diplomatic push to persuade Iran to give up its nuclear ambitions. And he twice — in April and again in late May — persuaded Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to hold off on military action against Iran and give diplomacy more time. The US in recent days has been shifting military aircraft and warships into and around the Middle East to protect Israel and US bases from Iranian attacks. All the while, Mr Trump has gone from publicly expressing hope that the moment could be a 'second chance' for Iran to make a deal to delivering explicit threats on Mr Khamenei and making calls for Tehran's unconditional surrender. 'We know exactly where the so-called 'Supreme Leader' is hiding,' Mr Trump said in a social media posting. 'He is an easy target, but is safe there – We are not going to take him out (kill!), at least not for now.' The military showdown with Iran comes seven years after Mr Trump withdrew the US from the Obama-administration brokered agreement in 2018, calling it the 'worst deal ever'. The 2015 deal, signed by Iran, US and other world powers, created a long-term, comprehensive nuclear agreement that limited Tehran's enrichment of uranium in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions. Mr Trump decried the Obama-era deal for giving Iran too much in return for too little, because the agreement did not cover Iran's non-nuclear malign behaviour. Mr Trump has bristled at criticism from some of his Maga faithful, including conservative pundit Tucker Carlson, who have suggested that further US involvement would be a betrayal to supporters who were drawn to his promise to end US involvement in expensive and endless wars.

Scottish Sun

35 minutes ago

• Scottish Sun

How Donald Trump hammered Iran's nuke bases with bunker buster bombs and missiles fired from submarines

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Wales Online

44 minutes ago

• Wales Online

US strikes 3 Iranian nuclear sites, entering war alongside Israel

US strikes 3 Iranian nuclear sites, entering war alongside Israel The United States has launched strikes on three Iranian nuclear sites early Sunday, entering Israel's war aimed at dismantling the country's nuclear program in a high-stakes move to weaken a longstanding adversary President Donald Trump speaks from the East Room of the White House in Washington, Saturday, June 21, 2025 (Image: Unknown ) In the early hours of Sunday, the United States executed strikes on three Iranian sites, entering the conflict spearheaded by Israel with the goal of sabotaging Iran's nuclear programme in a risky strategy to subdue a long-time foe amidst concerns of escalating into a larger regional skirmish. From the White House, President Donald Trump made a bold announcement that Iran's central nuclear infrastructures were "completely and fully obliterated." ‌ There was no impartial verification of the impact. ‌ The potential for continued U.S. involvement in assaults alongside ally Israel, which has been entangled in a nine-day military exchange with Iran, remains unclear. Trump warned Iran that any reprisal against the U.S. would trigger further attacks. Foreign Office updates travel advice for countries popular with UK tourists including Dubai READ MORE: "There will either be peace or there will be tragedy for Iran," he asserted, reports the Daily Record. The Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran acknowledged the occurrence of attacks on its establishments at Fordo, Isfahan, and Natanz, however, it maintained that its activities would persist unabated. Article continues below The choice for the U.S. to directly engage in hostilities follows over a week of bombardment by Israel against Iranian targets, an operation aimed at systematically dismantling Iran's air defences, missile capability, and impairing its nuclear enrichment undertakings. U.S. and Israeli authorities have suggested that American stealth bombers equipped with the 30,000-pound (13,500-kilogram) bunker-buster bombs, unique in their destructive capacity, stand as the optimal means for neutralising underground facilities associated with the Iranian nuclear programme. The Israeli flag is reflected in the windows of a damaged building in Ramat Gan, Israel, two days after it was hit by a missile launched from Iran, Saturday, June 21, 2025. (Image: Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. ) "We have completed our very successful attack on the three Nuclear sites in Iran, including Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan," Trump announced in a recent social media post. "All planes are now outside of Iran air space. A full payload of BOMBS was dropped on the primary site, Fordow. All planes are safely on their way home." ‌ Following the assault, Trump posted online: "This is an HISTORIC MOMENT FOR THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, ISRAEL, AND THE WORLD. IRAN MUST NOW AGREE TO END THIS WAR. THANK YOU!". Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu offered his commendations for Trump's action through a recorded video message to the American president. Netanyahu stated, "Your bold decision to target Iran's nuclear facilities, with the awesome and righteous might of the United States, will change history,". In response to these developments, Trump expressed his approval of the United States forces, stating that the U.S. "has done what no other country on earth could do." ‌ The White House and Pentagon have not provided further details about the strike; meanwhile, Fox News presenter Sean Hannity revealed after 9 p. m. Eastern time that he had been in communication with Trump. Hannity shared during his broadcast that the operation involved six bunker-buster bombs deployed at Fordo, while U.S. submarines situated 400 miles away fired 30 Tomahawk missiles targeting the Iranian nuclear facilities in Natanz and Isfahan. This satellite image provided by Maxar Technologies shows the Fordo enrichment facility in Iran on Jan. 24, 2025. (Image: Satellite image ©2025 Maxar Technologies ) ‌ These military strikes signal a perilous shift in the current climate, especially considering Iran's pledge to retaliate against any U.S. engagement in the Israeli conflict, which introduces risks on a global scale and directly to Trump himself. His stance as President was largely founded on his promise to keep America out of costly foreign entanglements and his criticism of the nation's interventionist policies. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres provided a candid response, sharing that he was "gravely alarmed" by the "dangerous escalation" resulting from American attacks. "There is a growing risk that this conflict could rapidly get out of control - with catastrophic consequences for civilians, the region, and the world," he voiced through an official statement. ‌ President Trump eased concerns among journalists on Friday, declaring his lack of inclination to send ground forces to Iran, maintaining it's "the last thing you want to do." This follows his indication that a decisive resolution would be reached within a fortnight. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Supreme Leader of Iran, delivered a stern caution to the U.S. on Wednesday, pronouncing that any attacks on the Islamic Republic would "result in irreparable damage for them." ‌ Additionally, spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, Esmail Baghaei Hamaneh, issued a stark warning that "any American intervention would be a recipe for an all-out war in the region." Prevent nuclear arms. Trump has unwaveringly stated his determination to block Iran from developing nuclear arms, initially hoping the prospect of military intervention might result in a voluntary discontinuation of its atomic endeavours. On Saturday, the Israeli military disclosed preparations for a potentially drawn-out conflict, while Iran's foreign minister underscored before the U.S. offensive that American military engagement "would be very, very dangerous for everyone." ‌ The possibility of an escalated conflict loomed larger as Houthi rebels in Yemen, backed by Iran, threatened to renew their attacks on U.S. naval vessels in the Red Sea should the Trump administration align with Israel's military actions, despite having stopped such strikes in May following a deal with the U.S.. In a significant development, the U.S. ambassador to Israel publicised the commencement of "assisted departure flights," constituting the inaugural flights from Israel since the outbreak of war in Gaza set off by the Hamas-led attacks on 7 October 2023. Last Thursday, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt declared that Trump was poised to settle on a course of action regarding the strikes within two weeks; nonetheless, he ordered them only a couple of days later. ‌ It seems that Trump resolved—perhaps swayed by Israeli officials and many Republican members of Congress—that Israel's ongoing operation had fashioned a propitious circumstance, potentially paving the way for a substantial disruption to Iran's nuclear agenda, possibly even bringing it to a permanent halt. Iran impaired. According to Israeli sources, their aggressive campaign has already significantly weakened Iran's air defences, allowing them to inflict considerable damage on several Iranian nuclear facilities. However, in order to obliterate the Fordo nuclear fuel enrichment plant, Israel sought assistance from Trump, specifically requesting the use of the American bunker-busting bomb known as the GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator. This formidable weapon relies on its immense weight and raw kinetic energy to target deeply entrenched sites before detonating, and is currently only deployable via the B-2 stealth bomber, a unique asset in the American military inventory. ‌ Should this bomb be deployed in the assault, it would signify the inaugural combat application of the weapon. The bomb is equipped with a conventional warhead and is believed to be capable of penetrating approximately 200 feet (61 meters) underground before detonating. The bombs can be dropped in succession, effectively burrowing deeper with each subsequent explosion. The International Atomic Energy Agency has confirmed that Iran is producing highly enriched uranium at Fordo, which introduces the risk of nuclear material being dispersed into the vicinity if the GBU-57 A/B were used to strike the facility. ‌ Previous Israeli attacks on another Iranian nuclear site, Natanz, specifically targeting a centrifuge site, have only resulted in contamination confined to the site itself, not the surrounding area, as per the IAEA. Trump's choice for direct U.S. military intervention comes after a two-month attempt by his administration, which included high-level, direct talks with the Iranians, to convince Tehran to curb its nuclear programme. For several months, Trump professed his dedication to a diplomatic effort to persuade Iran to give up its nuclear aspirations. He managed to persuade Netanyahu twice – once in April and again at the end of May – to postpone military action against Iran to give diplomacy additional time. ‌ In terms of military manoeuvres, the U.S. has recently been deploying military aircraft and warships throughout the Middle East to protect Israel and American bases from possible Iranian assaults. Trump has wavered between expressing optimism for Iran's "second chance" at an agreement and issuing direct threats towards Khamenei, along with calls for Tehran's unconditional capitulation. On social media, Trump made a bold statement: "We know exactly where the so-called 'Supreme Leader' is hiding," adding, "He is an easy target, but is safe there - We are not going to take him out (kill! ), at least not for now." ‌ Seven years after Trump pulled the U.S. out of the 2015 nuclear deal, which he denounced as the "worst deal ever.", he still faces military tensions with Iran. The 2015 agreement, which involved Iran, the U.S., and other world powers, aimed to provide a sustainable solution to limit Tehran's uranium enrichment in exchange for sanctions relief. Trump criticised the Obama-era deal, condemning it for being overly generous to Iran without addressing their non-nuclear malevolent actions. Article continues below Facing backlash from his own MAGA base, including influential conservative commentator Tucker Carlson, Trump is grappling with suggestions that any further American involvement contradicts his pledge to end U.S. participation in costly, protracted conflicts.