TEASER: The Hazing of Scott Wiener

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TEASER: The Hazing of Scott Wiener

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Duration

0:00 / 04:17

Published

July 3, 2026

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Last week, two videos of constituents aggressively confronting California State Senator Scott Wiener on his stance on Israel/Palestine went viral—one from a World Cup watch party and one from a trans march during Pride. Wiener, the likely replacement in the House for the retiring Nancy Pelosi, has joined commentators in labeling the incidents as antisemitic harassment. But pro-Palestine constituents have some basis for being wary of Wiener: In January, Wiener awkwardly—perhaps opportunisitically—reversed his position on applying the word “genocide” to the devastation in Gaza after declining to use the term on the debate stage.

In this premium episode of On the Nose, Arielle Angel talks with Jewish Currents senior politics editor Mari Cohen parse the two videos, and discuss how the left should relate to even the most opportunistic reversals on Palestine in the Democratic Party.

Thanks to Jesse Brenneman for editing and to Nathan Salsburg for the use of his song “VIII (All That Were Calculated Have Passed).”

Media Mentioned and Further Reading

Letter to the editor on the imperative to welcome Scott Wiener

“S.F. Trans March organizers defend protesters who drove out Scott Wiener,” Lucy Hodgman, San Francisco Chronicle

“Democratic Presidential Contenders Are Turning on Israel. Will They Convince Progressives?,” Alex Kane, Jewish Currents

“Facing backlash after accusing Israel of genocide, Scott Wiener steps down as Calif. Jewish Caucus co-chair,” Philissa Cramer, JTA

“Harris reaches out to Mamdani, pro-Palestinian activists in run-up to 2028,” Holly Otterbein, Alex Thompson, Axios

“Justice Department opens civil rights probe after NYC coffee shop bans congressman over Israel support,” Katherine Tangalakis-Lippert, Business Insider

“In California, Jewish Groups’ Win Is Students’ Loss,” Gabi Kirk, Jewish Currents

Zohran Mamdani being confronted on Palestine

Transcript forthcoming.

TEASER: The Hazing of Scott Wiener (this page)

Jewish Currents parses two viral videos of constituents confronting the state senator, and discusses how the left should relate to even the most opportunistic reversals on Palestine.

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