Mehdi Unfiltered Meet Three Congressional Candidates Taking on AIPAC
Mar 10, 2026
Junaid Ahmed, grassroots candidate in IL-8 focused on working-class issues and fighting outside spending. Kat Abughazaleh, progressive activist of Palestinian descent running in IL-9 for foreign policy accountability. Robert Peters, state senator from IL-2 with a progressive legislative record. They discuss AIPAC-funded ad campaigns, shell PAC tactics, AI-generated attacks, community backlash, and grassroots resistance.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Robert Peters Details AIPAC Spending In His Working Class District
- Robert Peters describes AIPAC spending roughly $5 million to back his opponent and using shell PACs.
- He frames the district as deeply working class, with high Medicaid and SNAP dependence, contrasting local needs with outside billionaire spending.
Kat Abughazaleh Gets AI Ads While Opponent Has AIPAC Ties
- Kat Abughazaleh recounts AIPAC backing Laura Fine via shell PACs and fundraisers while targeting Kat with an AI-generated ad.
- She notes she's the only top viable candidate who never met or submitted a position paper to AIPAC.
Junaid Ahmed On Flood Of TV Ads And Mailers
- Junaid Ahmed describes nonstop TV ads and 20 mailers naming his opponent Melissa Bean, funded by roughly $5 million.
- He emphasizes the inundation of media aimed at buying name recognition in his district.