10/03/25

Good morning! It’s Friday, October 3rd

Mean Girls Day

A whole day to celebrate Stefanie Drummond from Mean Girls. Frankly, it should be longer.

And now, the news.

Manchester Attack

-via Washington Post and CBS News

Starting in Manchester, England, on Yom Kippur, the Jewish Day of Atonement, the holiest day of the Jewish calendar, where at least two people have been killed and four others have been seriously injured after a man drove a car through a crowd of Jewish people.

The suspect, who was killed by police, also stabbed a security guard and was wearing an explosive vest. Though it turned out not to be a viable device. Not that it really matters. I mean, it does practically, but not emotionally.

Three other suspects were arrested on “suspicion of commission, preparation and instigation of acts of terrorism.”

In the mix of everything I said, I want to come back to – a security guard was stabbed. Why am I repeating that? Because temples have security guards now.

They have for a while, but particularly since the October 7th Hamas attacks.

I talked about this a few months ago but I’m going to talk about it again. I’m going to talk about it forever, if that what it takes.

In the three months following the Israel-Hamas war, the Anti-Defamation League reported that anti-Semitic incidents went up 361%.

And in a report published in February 2025, 33% of American Jews said they felt they had been the personal target of antisemitism, either in person or online.

It’s called the Israel-Hamas war, and we can argue about the use of the word war later, but we say Hamas, not Gaza, because Gaza is not at war here. Although they are the de facto ruling power in Gaza, Hamas is not the recognized government of Gaza. The reason they are the de facto ruling power is because they gained that power forcibly, overthrowing the recognized government.

So we say Hamas because that is the specific group, within Gaza, that is fighting on one side.

On the side is Israel. And the reason that’s how that gets said is because the government of Israel dictates that side of the war.

The war, and the way it’s being handled, is deeply unpopular in Israel. 73% of Israelis want Prime Minister Netanyahu to either resign now or after the war is over.

Since October 8th I have said that we’re going to have to hold two thoughts in our heads at the same time: what’s happening in Palestine is horrific. Full stop. It is a genocide. It is the act of the government of Israel.

Acts of antisemitism are also horrific. Full stop.

What happened on Thursday is horrific.

We should free Palestine. There are people actively standing in the way of making that happen – these are not those people.

As I did in June, following the Colorado attack on the people on a peacewalk for the hostages still being held by Hamas, If the White House has anything factual or newsworthy to say about this, I will relay that. Otherwise, do not expect I will cover any of their comments here.

This White House uses Jewish Americans to push their hateful policies against other groups and then turns around and invites antisemites into the highest seats of government.

The president has dined with antisemites. Elon quite literally did a nazi salute to celebrate Trump’s win. The Proud Boys marched with Trump’s flag the day he was inaugurated.

So, unless it is actual news, there is no statement that can be made that is worthy of being covered, nor, quite frankly, believed.

Obviously, my heart is with the victims, as well as the witnesses, the first responders, their friends, and family, and all Jewish people around the world for whom I cannot imagine what this news feels like. Again.

Because it continues to happen.

Yom Kippur is a day of atonement.

By the way, try not to be overtaken with shock when I tell you that Kash Patel announced on Wednesday, a day before this attack, that the FBI has cut ties with the leading Jewish civil rights group, the Anti-Defamation League. No word was given on why.

I gotta be honest… I don’t really have it in me for other stories.

If you’re new here, this happens sometimes.

It’s okay. We’re getting through this. Sometimes we just gotta say – I’m good. Maxed out on news.

On a Friday too!

Because the point of this show has always been – get in, get the news, and get out. And when the news starts with a terrorist attack simply because of someone’s religion – I think I’m comfortable saying that’s a wrap for me.

We’ll get back to it on Monday.

The government will probably still be shut down.

Go listen to your favorite artist. Maybe that Taylor Swift (see? Look how relevant I am… if you don’t know, though I don’t know how, Tay Tay’s got a new album) album. Maybe Kelly Clarkson. Maybe Andy Williams.

Anything.

Listen to your favorite artist. See your favorite people.

Have your favorite weekend.

And because you will. And because of all the favorites – if favorites get to pick a favorites, when all those favorites get to pick theirs – you’re at the top of my list. And because of that… I’m proud of you.