Letters / On “Hasan Piker’s Politics of Appeal”

In a recent episode of On The Nose, Arielle Angel and Hasan Piker dismissed congressional candidate Scott Wiener’s decision to start calling Israel’s actions in Gaza a genocide. “Nobody believes him,” they both concur. 

I’ll tell you who does believe him: the Jewish establishment. Wiener’s switch in language is causing them more heartburn than similar comments from people farther to his left. Real change on any issue comes when people who are deep inside the mainstream start shifting, so even if Weiner was late, he’s sending a significant signal of what’s possible politically. 

Wiener handily won the primary yesterday; he will soon be in a position to take a harder stance on Israel in Congress. Given his district, his seat will be a safe one. The Jewish Community Relations Council has already kicked him out. It’s up to us to recognize that and cultivate him as a leader.

When discussing Majorie Taylor Green and her anti-Israel stance, Piker correctly argued that political success requires welcoming people with open arms when they change their mind and come over to your side. So take your own advice with Scott Wiener.