Russell Contreras

Russell Contreras, a senior reporter at Axios, and Dove Kent, senior director of the Diaspora Alliance, dive into the controversial Project Esther, which frames campus protests as support for Hamas. They discuss the potential dangers of this narrative on free speech and the Jewish community. The conversation highlights differing perspectives on combating anti-Semitism and the implications for cultural identity. Both guests emphasize the complexities of defining anti-Semitism, arguing that misguided strategies could worsen the situation.

Russell Contreras, Senior race and justice reporter at Axios who covers race, policing, and immigration. He explores Nicki Minaj’s pivot to MAGA and how cultural figures gain access. He examines shifting definitions of whiteness and why people of color join the far right. He traces Border Patrol history and everyday experiences of perpetual foreignness.

Robert P. Jones is the President of the Public Religion Research Institute and an expert on religion and politics, while Russell Contreras is an Axios reporter focusing on justice and race, particularly in Latino communities. They discuss the surprising surge of Latino evangelical support for Trump and its implications for future elections. The conversation covers the complex ties between cultural identity and religious beliefs, explores church strategies amid gentrification, and highlights the political divides within Latino faiths, revealing shifting allegiances in the political landscape.

Senator Mitch McConnell freezes up again, causing concern among Republicans. The podcast also delves into the rise of hate crimes in the US and the importance of apocalyptic seed vaults for global crop production.

Axios journalists and experts discuss Florida's rejection of an AP African American Studies Class, implications of the Stop Woke Act on teaching Black history, educator fears, challenges faced in discussing Black history, and strange incidents at Dallas Zoo.