# 121: Galactify The Intifada, with Pallavi Gunalan Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hoyzKK5w8sY Recap page: https://rapidrecap.app/video/hoyzKK5w8sY --- ## Quick Overview Zohran Mamdani's primary win for New York City mayor sparked intense backlash from Democratic politicians like Eric Adams, Hakeem Jeffries, and Kirsten Gillibrand, who falsely accused him of antisemitism, supporting Hamas, and promoting "global jihad" due to his use of "globalize the intifada," despite his clear explanations and the term's historical meaning as an uprising. **Key Points:** - New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani's primary victory triggered immediate condemnation from prominent Democrats, including Mayor Eric Adams, who baselessly labeled him "Pro Hamas" and a supporter of "dangerous terrorist organization that should be destroyed." - Congressman Hakeem Jeffries criticized Mamdani for not condemning Hamas post-October 7th and for defending "globalize the intifada," stating Mamdani "is going to have to convince folks that he is prepared to aggressively address the rise in anti-semitism." - Senator Kirsten Gillibrand incorrectly claimed Mamdani referenced "global jihad" and asserted that "the global inifat is is is a statement that means destroy and destroy Israel and kill all the Jews," despite Mamdani's clarification that intifada means "uprising." - The hosts highlighted that the Holocaust Museum previously used "intifada" in Arabic to describe the Warsaw Ghetto uprising until mid-2024, when they changed it to the Arabic word for "resistance." - Guest Pallavi Gunalan, a stand-up comedian, shared her journey of learning about global horrors post-October 7th, noting the "self-segregating into like pro Palestine people and then like insane people" within comedy. - The hosts and Gunalan criticized the politicians' rhetoric as pure Islamophobia, driven by political opportunism and donor influence (AIPAC), rather than genuine concern for Jewish constituents, especially since Mamdani won the primary with significant support. - Gunalan also noted the "embarrassing" pro-fascist leanings of some Hindu Indians, including a cousin who supports Trump despite having "your own fascist" in Modi. **Context:** The podcast "Bad Hazbara" hosts Matt Leeb and Daniel Mate welcome stand-up comedian Pallavi Gunalan to discuss the political fallout following Zohran Mamdani's recent primary win for New York City mayor. The conversation centers on the intense backlash Mamdani faced from high-profile Democratic politicians, including Mayor Eric Adams, Congressman Hakeem Jeffries, and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, who launched a smear campaign accusing him of antisemitism and supporting terrorism due to his use of the phrase "globalize the intifada." The hosts and guest analyze these accusations, contrasting them with Mamdani's actual statements and the historical context of the term "intifada," while also touching on broader issues of Islamophobia and political motivations within the Democratic Party. ## Detailed Analysis Bad Hazbara hosts Matt Leeb and Daniel Mate, joined by comedian Pallavi Gunalan, delve into the controversy surrounding Zohran Mamdani's primary victory for New York City mayor. They highlight the immediate and aggressive smear campaign launched by Democratic figures like Mayor Eric Adams, who, on CNN, baselessly accused Mamdani of being "Pro Hamas" and embracing "dangerous terrorist organization" philosophies, despite admitting he had not researched Mamdani's statements. Hakeem Jeffries echoed these sentiments, claiming Mamdani needed to "clarify his position" on "globalizing the Antifa" and "convince folks that he is prepared to aggressively address the rise in anti-semitism," despite Mamdani already winning the primary. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand further escalated the rhetoric, incorrectly attributing "global jihad" to Mamdani and asserting that "global inifat... means destroy and destroy Israel and kill all the Jews," dismissing Mamdani's own definition of intifada as an uprising. The hosts and Gunalan systematically dismantle these accusations, pointing out the politicians' lack of research, the historical use of "intifada" (even by the Holocaust Museum for the Warsaw Ghetto uprising until recently), and the clear Islamophobia driving the narrative. They argue that these attacks are politically motivated, driven by AIPAC and donor interests, rather than genuine concern for Jewish constituents, especially given Mamdani's primary win. Gunalan shares her personal journey of increased awareness post-October 7th, noting the "self-segregating" nature of the comedy community regarding Palestine and the "embarrassing" pro-fascist views of some Hindu Indians, including her own family members who support figures like Modi and Trump. The discussion underscores the cynical use of "Jewish fears" by politicians to undermine a progressive candidate, revealing a deep-seated racism and political opportunism within the Democratic Party. ### Podcast Introduction & Context - Hosts Matt Leeb and Daniel Mate open with a tribute to Brian Wilson and promote the podcast's Patreon and Spotify engagement features - They introduce guest Pallavi Gunalan, a stand-up comedian and former engineer, discussing her experience navigating the comedy world post-October 7th and her family's political views, including support for Modi and Trump among some Hindu Indians. ### Zohran Mamdani's Primary Win & Initial Backlash - Mamdani's victory for NYC mayor sparks immediate controversy from Democratic establishment figures - Mayor Eric Adams appears on CNN, making unsubstantiated claims that Mamdani is "Pro Hamas" and praises "terrorist groups," admitting he has not researched these claims. ### Democratic Politicians' Smear Campaign - Hakeem Jeffries criticizes Mamdani for not condemning Hamas and for defending "globalize the intifada," demanding he "convince folks that he is prepared to aggressively address the rise in anti-semitism" - Senator Kirsten Gillibrand falsely attributes "global jihad" to Mamdani and asserts that "global inifat... means destroy and destroy Israel and kill all the Jews," despite Mamdani's explanations. ### Deconstructing "Intifada" & Islamophobia - The hosts clarify that "intifada" means "uprising," noting the Holocaust Museum's past use of the term for the Warsaw Ghetto uprising's Arabic translation until mid-2024 - They and Gunalan argue that the politicians' rhetoric is rooted in Islamophobia and a deliberate misrepresentation of the term to stoke fear. ### Political Motivations & Hypocrisy - The discussion highlights that the Democratic Party's attacks on Mamdani are driven by political interests, including AIPAC and donor influence, rather than genuine concern for Jewish voters, especially given Mamdani's primary win - They criticize the hypocrisy of politicians who ignore Mamdani's electoral success while amplifying baseless accusations. ### Guest's Personal Reflections - Pallavi Gunalan shares her personal journey of increased awareness about global injustices post-October 7th, describing it as "pulling that thread" that is "hard to go back" from - She discusses the "self-segregating" nature of the comedy community regarding the Israel-Palestine conflict and the "embarrassing" pro-fascist leanings of some Hindu Indians, including her own family.