Firing Line with Margaret Hoover Bari Weiss on the ‘perfect storm’ fueling antisemitism in America
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Jan 3, 2026 
Bari Weiss, a renowned journalist and founder of The Free Press, dives deep into the unsettling rise of antisemitism in America. She outlines three major catalysts fueling this trend: post-truth politics, a weakened political center, and the rapid spread of misinformation. Weiss shares personal reflections on the 2018 Pittsburgh synagogue attack and critiques antisemitism on both the right, notably through conspiracy theories, and the left, often disguised as social justice. Her insights challenge perceptions of Jewish identity and discuss the implications of political rhetoric.
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When Antisemitism Rises
- Antisemitism spikes during insecurity and economic upheaval, aided by populism on both flanks.
- Weiss links populist movements and social media with faster spread and normalization of conspiratorial Jew-hatred.
Replacement Theory Explained
- On the far right, replacement theory frames Jews as puppetmasters undermining the nation.
- Weiss explains 'You will not replace us' as a coded conspiracy about Jewish control and loyalty.
Political Rhetoric Lowers Guardrails
- Weiss argues Trump dismantled moral guardrails, making previously unacceptable bigotry acceptable.
- She links his rhetoric about 'enemies of the people' and 'globalists' to tropes that attract antisemites.