Latest news with #PassoverSeder
The Hill
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Hill
Minnesota attacks add to fears of rising political violence
The shootings of two Democratic lawmakers in Minnesota are the latest incidents to raise worries about the threat of political violence in the U.S. Experts warn that the attacks, which follow an assassination attempt against President Trump and an arson at the home of Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro (D), are part of a broader pattern of political violence that could be on the rise amid heightened polarization as the midterms near. 'Each act has its own unique horror about it, and the details are uniquely awful. But in terms of the big picture, it's the latest in what's become a pattern of politically motivated attacks,' said Matt Dallek, a George Washington University historian and professor. 'For decades, we've been living in an era of partisan polarization, and the polarization has gotten worse over time, and that means that the general political climate has also coarsened and become more toxic.' Minnesota state Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman (D) and her husband, Mark Hortman, were killed in their home on Saturday in what the acting U.S. attorney for the District of Minnesota labeled 'a political assassination' and 'the stuff of nightmares.' State Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette Hoffman, were also shot and seriously injured. A specific ideological motivation remains unclear, but officials revealed that the now-arrested suspect had traveled to the homes of additional Minnesota state politicians and filled notebooks with dozens of additional lawmakers' names. The tragedy underscored the threat environment for political figures at all levels. It came just a few weeks after an arson attack at the Pennsylvania governor's residence, in which the suspect who set the fire the night after a Passover Seder allegedly 'harbored hatred' against Shapiro, according to officials. Last year, then-candidate Trump was grazed by a bullet when a gunman attempted to assassinate him at a small-town Pennsylvania campaign rally. In 2022, Rep. Nancy Pelosi's (D-Calif.) husband was wounded by an assailant looking for the then-Speaker. In April of that same year, a man pleaded guilty to an attempted assassination of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh. 'We saw a lot of political violence in the '60s and '70s and even in the '80s, and then they kind of disappeared in the '90s and 2000s. And so this feels different, having a number of instances in the past year or so,' said Jillian Peterson, a professor of criminology and criminal justice at Minnesota's Hamline University and executive director of the Violence Prevention Project. Direct cause-and-effect lines are hard to draw, but the latest incidents come against a backdrop of intense political polarization and increasingly toxic rhetoric on the national stage. 'We see increasing demonization and delegitimizing political rivals. We see increasing language that portray political rivals as an existential threat to the nation, for democracy and so on. We see increasing … animosity towards people who hold different political views,' said Arie Perliger, an expert on political violence and extremism at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. As discourse becomes more virulent, political figures are increasingly perceived as 'symbols' of policy and ideas, Perliger said, noting that Trump has been 'a major factor' in fostering that perception. Trump has repeatedly hurled names and insults onto the political stage, casting rivals as enemies and taking heat for dehumanizing language against immigrants. Across the aisle, Democrats have pitched Trump and Republican policies as a threat to democracy. 'If you are consistently portraying the other side as a threat, it's no wonder that eventually there's some people who take that to the point where they say, 'OK, if the other side is a threat, violence against the other side is justified. That's the only way to save the country,'' Perliger said. 'I think both sides could learn from becoming much more responsible.' In the wake of the Minnesota shootings, Trump joined a chorus of condemnation from both sides of the aisle, saying 'such horrific violence will not be tolerated' in the U.S. Former President Biden said 'this heinous attack motivated by politics should never happen in America.' Former Vice President Kamala Harris urged that 'the hate and division that dominate our political discourse must end.' House GOP Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.) stressed that 'no public official — or any American — should fear for their safety in their own home.' Others have called to turn down the temperature. But the flood of condemnation that comes after violent incidents, experts said, doesn't offset divisive political rhetoric year-round. The current moment seems to lack 'a particularly serious effort to seek any sort of reconciliation or unity or sustained condemnation of this kind of violence,' said Dallek. He pointed out that Trump has said he won't call Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) in the wake of the incident, knocking the blue state leader as 'whacked out.' There's also a growing cultural normalization of violence across the board. Back in December, UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was shot and killed in New York City. This week, a satirical musical based on Luigi Mangione, the 26-year-old charged with the killing, opened in San Fransisco. 'I'm not sure if it's a great thing to make people who are murderers cultural heroes. I don't think it's the best idea, as much as we can have different views about their motivations and so on,' said Perliger. And among Trump's first moves of his second term were sweeping pardons for hundreds convicted in connection with the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. Though details are still unfolding about the Minnesota shootings, they raise warning signs and security concerns for political figures ahead of what's set to be a high-stakes midterm fight for both parties. The risk goes up 'the more that these types of really heated or hate-filled types of political rhetoric make it into the public sphere — and of course, during election cycles that happens more,' said Peterson. 'It's sort of that violence begets violence, and so if we don't start to really tone down the rhetoric … I think it's time to really take that seriously as we move into this next election cycle,' she said.
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Yahoo
I created the friend group of my dreams — then moved across the country. The distance hasn't ruined my relationships.
I've moved eight times, so I'm used to making new friends while maintaining old relationships. To do so, I think it's important to go beyond surface-level conversations. I also like to stay in touch by sending my friends spontaneous gifts and planning trips. After living in Denver for three years, I finally met a group of women who all seemed to be looking for the same thing: an unfiltered, "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants" type of community. It felt like a dream — fun and easy friendship that could get beautifully deep, as if I'd known them forever. Then, just months after I'd finally found "my people," I moved to Atlanta. Suddenly, I was 1,400 miles away from the friend group I'd always wanted, but I was determined to keep them in my life. Luckily, this was far from my first move (it was my eighth) and I don't plan to settle down anytime soon, so I'm no stranger to maintaining long-distance friendships. Here are some of the best things I've learned about keeping my loved ones close despite the distance. In my experience, moving and making friends in adulthood is a difficult, vulnerable process. Small talk and niceties don't exactly cut it anymore. Some friends and I have been going through The New York Times article, "The 36 Questions That Lead to Love" in our group text, and we recently hit one of the darker ones: What's your most terrible memory? We discussed everything from postpartum depression and divorce to impending doom — you know, the light stuff. The truth is, I don't really know what my friends do for work, but I do know when they've got a case of imposter syndrome or how their trauma is affecting their new relationship. Oversharing encourages these unfiltered conversations, and in turn, makes me feel closer to my long-distance friends. In my opinion, texts and two-word Instagram captions aren't always enough to stay in touch with people. Luckily, I've found other ways to make staying in contact a lot of fun. For example, I'm obsessed with the app Letterloop, which takes our responses to questions and compiles them into newsletters for us all to read. I also recommend sending video messages, brain dumping voice memos, and blogging on Substack. Or, better yet, pick up the phone and call. I love a spontaneous present. I recently opened — and devoured — a box of baked goods from a long-distance home-baker pal. Another friend randomly got a Shrek print from me in the mail. Why? Because she loves Shrek. It's easy to forget milestone dates like birthdays and anniversaries when you don't see friends regularly, but it's also easy to treat them to random things when you think of them. The biggest, and most ironic, thing I've learned about keeping long-distance friends is that I have to make the effort to see them in person. Finances and schedules can get in the way, but I genuinely never regret planning trips around friends I haven't seen in a while. For example, my husband and I flew back to Denver for our buddy's annual Passover Seder, and it was well worth the trip. Another time, I met a friend from my Denver comedy group in New York City to see a concert. Whether it's being a tourist in their city for a weekend, meeting somewhere in the middle, or flying to Europe to see the band we used to love, odds are we're planning to use our PTO anyway. So, why not spend it with a dear old friend? Read the original article on Business Insider
Business Insider
11-06-2025
- Lifestyle
- Business Insider
I created the friend group of my dreams — then moved across the country. The distance hasn't ruined my relationships.
After living in Denver for three years, I finally met a group of women who all seemed to be looking for the same thing: an unfiltered, "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants" type of community. It felt like a dream — fun and easy friendship that could get beautifully deep, as if I'd known them forever. Then, just months after I'd finally found "my people," I moved to Atlanta. Suddenly, I was 1,400 miles away from the friend group I'd always wanted, but I was determined to keep them in my life. Luckily, this was far from my first move (it was my eighth) and I don't plan to settle down anytime soon, so I'm no stranger to maintaining long-distance friendships. Here are some of the best things I've learned about keeping my loved ones close despite the distance. Oversharing makes you hotter In my experience, moving and making friends in adulthood is a difficult, vulnerable process. Small talk and niceties don't exactly cut it anymore. Some friends and I have been going through The New York Times article, " The 36 Questions That Lead to Love" in our group text, and we recently hit one of the darker ones: What's your most terrible memory? We discussed everything from postpartum depression and divorce to impending doom — you know, the light stuff. The truth is, I don't really know what my friends do for work, but I do know when they've got a case of imposter syndrome or how their trauma is affecting their new relationship. Oversharing encourages these unfiltered conversations, and in turn, makes me feel closer to my long-distance friends. Texting isn't the only way to stay in touch In my opinion, texts and two-word Instagram captions aren't always enough to stay in touch with people. Luckily, I've found other ways to make staying in contact a lot of fun. For example, I'm obsessed with the app Letterloop, which takes our responses to questions and compiles them into newsletters for us all to read. I also recommend sending video messages, brain dumping voice memos, and blogging on Substack. Or, better yet, pick up the phone and call. "Thinking of you" gifts are the best gifts I love a spontaneous present. I recently opened — and devoured — a box of baked goods from a long-distance home-baker pal. Another friend randomly got a Shrek print from me in the mail. Why? Because she loves Shrek. It's easy to forget milestone dates like birthdays and anniversaries when you don't see friends regularly, but it's also easy to treat them to random things when you think of them. Get the trip out of the group chat The biggest, and most ironic, thing I've learned about keeping long-distance friends is that I have to make the effort to see them in person. Finances and schedules can get in the way, but I genuinely never regret planning trips around friends I haven't seen in a while. For example, my husband and I flew back to Denver for our buddy's annual Passover Seder, and it was well worth the trip. Another time, I met a friend from my Denver comedy group in New York City to see a concert. Whether it's being a tourist in their city for a weekend, meeting somewhere in the middle, or flying to Europe to see the band we used to love, odds are we're planning to use our PTO anyway. So, why not spend it with a dear old friend?
Chicago Tribune
10-06-2025
- Politics
- Chicago Tribune
Jay Tcath: The phrase ‘Free Palestine' is freeing no one, but it is killing some of us
Twice in a recent two-week period, two men were arrested for terrorist attacks while invoking 'Free Palestine.' For them, the phrase served as a rallying cry sanctioning violence. Their targets were, in the deadly Washington, D.C., attack outside the Jewish Museum, a young couple, and in Boulder, Colorado, people attending a vigil for the 58 hostages held by Hamas. For the two suspects — neither of whom is Palestinian — the phrase 'Free Palestine' was a license to kill. They are not the only ones who understand it that way. It was just two months ago when the official residence of Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro was set ablaze after a Passover Seder event. The perpetrator, who has confessed, cited the governor's views on Palestine. Another 'Free Palestine' chanter struck and killed an elderly California Jewish man with a bullhorn in November 2023. Not all 'Free Palestine' chanters understand it as a call to violence. Yet the phrase's intentional lack of specificity is a big part of its utility: What the user means is left to the audience's interpretation. There are several prevalent understandings, ranging from noble to murderous. 'Free Palestine' can mean the justified yearning for Palestinians to enjoy the full freedoms, prosperity and security to which all people are entitled. It can be a desperate plea for new, elected leaders. Hamas has governed Gaza with an iron fist — and no elections — since 2007, and the West Bank hasn't voted since 2006. This indifference to basic democracy does not portend well for what freedom would look like in a free Palestine. For others invoking it, the phrase's imprecision is precisely the point. 'Free Palestine' can be exploited for misleading purposes. The lack of specificity avoids answering the most revealing question: Would a free Palestine be alongside Israel or instead of Israel? Of course, Hamas and many of its global advocates shamelessly reject the 'alongside' option. In Gaza and elsewhere, they threaten anyone willing to accept such a peaceful compromise. Other 'Free Palestine' supporters are unwilling to pay the negative public relations cost of acknowledging that 'instead of' is their nonnegotiable option. Why? Because their 'instead of' option can only be realized with the annihilation of a sovereign United Nations member country populated by 10 million Jews, Muslims, Christians, Hindus, Druze and others. Editorial: We mourn the slayings of two young Israeli Embassy workers, and the crime's Chicago tiesThe 'instead of' option glorifies killing Jews, be it on Oct. 7, 2023, in Israel; in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; in Washington; in Boulder; and God knows where next. While we don't know where the next 'Free Palestine'-inspired attack will happen, we do know, tragically, it isn't a matter of whether it will happen. It is simply a matter of when. In most instances, 'Free Palestine' is protected free speech in the United States. But after this most recent series of 'Free Palestine'-motivated attacks and with an accompanying deafening silence of condemnation from most pro-Palestinian groups, is it so unreasonable to ask that those promulgating it own up to what it does and doesn't mean to them? And for us Jews. The murderers do not indulge the lie of most pro-Palestinian advocates that there is a distinction between Jews and Zionists. Neither the California, Washington, Harrisburg or Boulder offenders bothered to inquire about their victims' identities or ideologies before attacking. Whether the victims were even Jewish or Zionist, or how they understood 'Free Palestine,' was irrelevant. Politicalized catchphrases are proliferating. While many may seem innocuous, they can be dog whistles that are understood differently by different audiences. Our business, civic, educational, faith, media and political leaders have learned how to navigate these linguistic minefields. They now need to tune their antennas to the violent impact that 'Free Palestine' and the demonization of Zionists are having on American Jews. Those of us yearning for both Israeli-Palestinian peace and Jewish safety worldwide understandably want to know what 'Free Palestine' means to those in our midst. The Boulder attacker planned his violence for a year, authorities say. There are undoubtedly others right now planning their own attacks to 'Free Palestine.' Such would-be assailants should know whether their attacks are endorsed or opposed by the 'Free Palestine' campaign they have adopted. We already know how two people over the last three weeks understood the phrase's imprecision. And we have seen and heard all too many applauding this resistance. Attempting to define the meaning of another group's self-understanding is likely to evoke accusations of mansplaining. But in the absence of a widely embraced peaceful definition of 'Free Palestine,' being accused of insensitivity is easy to bear. We Jews are just trying to freely celebrate a Seder, visit a museum and rally for hostages. That yearning involves no duplicity or threats to others. Jay Tcath is executive vice president of the Jewish United Fund.
CBS News
07-05-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro's residence to get an "anti-climb" fence after alleged arson
A barrier described as an "anti-climb fence" is in the works for the Pennsylvania governor's official residence, the state police chief said Tuesday, less than a month after a late-night intruder jumped the existing fence, broke into the home and started a damaging fire. Col. Christopher Paris' letter to state lawmakers mentioned the fence as part of a series of changes to bolster security at the brick mansion that is the Harrisburg home of Gov. Josh Shapiro and his family. The alleged intruder, an unemployed welder, faces charges that include attempted homicide and arson for the fire at about 2 a.m. on April 13. Shapiro and family members were awakened and evacuated, hours after participating in a Passover Seder in the residence. No one was hurt but the building's damage has been estimated to total millions of dollars. Paris told lawmakers he does not intend to provide them with a security review conducted by consultant Jeffrey B. Miller, who led the state police about two decades ago. Miller's findings and his agency's own investigation, Paris told the legislators, have changed procedures, including "more frequent security assessments," the establishment of a uniformed division to oversee building security at the residence and the installation of a no-climb fence. Fences of metal and brick about 7-feet (2-meter) high already circle the residence along the Susquehanna River about a mile (1.6 kilometers) from the Capitol. Construction on the new fence did not appear to have begun Tuesday afternoon, although small marker flags along the property's perimeter indicated work is underway. "While some of those improvements will be clearly visible to the public — such as the new anti-climb fence — many will not be," Paris wrote. He said Miller's report contained details about security operations that, if disclosed to the public, "would obviously risk jeopardizing the safety" of those the agency protects.
