Ted Cruz accusing Tucker Carlson of being anti-semitic merely for Carlson questioning Cruz’ positions regarding a foreign government: Israel. This is a diversionary tactic increasingly being used by those who don’t want to discuss increasingly reckless and bizarre decisions by U.S. politicians regarding the coordinated use of military power by the U.S. and Israel. Fascinating conversation. It’s sad to see politicians stooping this low to avoid having meaningful discussion.

How does the government of Israel coordinate with elected U.S. officials? AIPAC.

Lee Fang further explains that

FARA applies to any entity in the U.S. working on behalf of or in coordination with a foreign government. Virtually all registrants are Americans or American organizations.

AIPAC wields formidable amounts of money and power. What is AIPAC? Grok answers:

The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) is a prominent pro-Israel lobbying group in the United States, founded in 1951, that works to strengthen the U.S.-Israel relationship. With a bipartisan approach, AIPAC engages policymakers, candidates, and the public to advocate for policies that enhance Israel’s security, including robust military aid and diplomatic support. It has a large membership base, reportedly over 100,000, and significant financial influence, channeling millions in campaign contributions through its affiliated PACs to pro-Israel candidates. AIPAC organizes events like its annual Policy Conference, drawing thousands of activists and policymakers. Critics argue it wields outsized influence, sometimes stifling debate on U.S. Middle East policy, while supporters view it as a vital voice for a key U.S. ally. Its activities remain a focal point in discussions about U.S. foreign policy and lobbying dynamics.

What kinds of money are we talking about re AIPAC? Again, I asked GROK:

The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) has significantly increased its political spending in recent years, particularly since launching its political action committee (PAC) and super PAC, the United Democracy Project (UDP), in December 2021. Based on available data, here is a breakdown of AIPAC’s spending on U.S. politicians and campaigns over the past three years (2022–2024):

* 2022 Election Cycle: AIPAC’s PAC, founded in late 2021, distributed more than $17.5 million directly to 365 pro-Israel candidates, with 98% of endorsed candidates winning their races. This included $3 million to party committees and organizations like the National Republican Senatorial Committee and Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. The UDP, AIPAC’s super PAC, spent approximately $26.5 million in nine Democratic primaries, targeting progressive candidates critical of Israel. Total spending for 2022 was around $44 million.

* 2023 (Non-Election Year): While specific figures for 2023 are less comprehensive, AIPAC’s PAC continued to raise and distribute funds. Reports indicate AIPAC spent $3.7 million in November 2023 alone on congressional campaigns, with total contributions for the year likely in the range of $10–15 million, based on patterns of ongoing fundraising and lobbying. The UDP raised over $35 million in 2023, much of which was reserved for 2024 races.

* 2024 Election Cycle: AIPAC’s spending surged, with the PAC and UDP together spending nearly $126.9 million. The PAC contributed $55.2 million to federal candidates, with at least $45.2 million going to members of the 119th U.S. Congress. The UDP spent $61 million, including $37.9 million in independent expenditures supporting or opposing candidates, notably in high-profile primaries against progressive Democrats like Jamaal Bowman and Cori Bush. AIPAC’s total spending for 2024 surpassed $100 million by July, with significant contributions from billionaire donors.

Total Estimate (2022–2024): Combining these figures, AIPAC’s spending on U.S. politicians and campaigns over the past three years is approximately $180–190 million. This includes direct contributions to candidates, independent expenditures, and donations to party organizations. The majority of this spending occurred in the 2024 cycle, reflecting AIPAC’s aggressive strategy to influence congressional races, particularly Democratic primaries, to support pro-Israel candidates.

Note: Exact figures vary slightly across sources due to differences in reporting periods and categorizations (e.g., direct contributions vs. independent expenditures). Data is primarily drawn from Federal Election Commission filings and analyses by OpenSecrets, Sludge, and The Intercept. Some X posts claim higher figures (e.g., $200–300 million annually), but these lack verifiable evidence and are inconsistent with FEC records.

That’s a lot of money and influence, but gets worse for those of us who would hope that our elected representatives would only concern themselves with our needs, not the needs and wants of a foreign government. U.S. Representative Thomas Massie has explained that almost every member of Congress has an AIPAC “babysitter”:

BTW, Ted Cruz will never recover this torching by Tucker Carlson. The entire interview is stunning. Carlson “goes there” over and over and over, to those places avoided by legacy news outlets for decades:

Glenn Greenwald digs up some juicy archives to remind us that U.S. obeisance to Israel has been bi-partisan:

Supp: 2025.06.20