Headlines

North Carolina Man Arrested for Mailing Mass Antisemitic Death Threats
Macklemore Costume Controversy Reignites; Ambassador Accuses Singer of "Jew Hatred"
French Court Drops Antisemitism Charges in Assault Case, Sparking Outrage

🎧 Click Here to Listen & Subscribe

Transcript

You're listening to Antisemitism Watch, I'm Rachel Adler. Today, we're tracking direct threats, renewed scrutiny of public figures, and crucial data on community security needs.

Federal authorities have arrested a North Carolina man, Brian Charles, accused of mailing antisemitic threats to Jewish organizations, leaders, and a Holocaust memorial. According to a criminal complaint filed in federal court, the letters, sent in June and July, contained statements such as "I am going to destroy many Jews" and "Many shall die by my wrath." The FBI identified Charles through a fingerprint found on one of the letters. This arrest comes as Charles has a prior conviction in 2018 for mailing threatening communications. The Simon Wiesenthal Center noted that such threats are intended to terrorize Jewish Americans, making them afraid to open their mail or live openly. FBI data shows Jews remain the most targeted religious group for hate crimes in the U.S.

In Florida, a Kansas man, Korby Allen Strube, faces 23 felony counts for allegedly threatening to kill conservative commentator Ben Shapiro, reportedly over his Jewish faith. According to Boca News Now, Strube admitted to authorities that he authored social media posts, including one with a "countdown" to killing Shapiro.

In the realm of media and culture, musician Macklemore is facing renewed controversy over a 2014 performance where he wore a costume featuring antisemitic tropes, including an exaggerated hooked nose and beard. The images resurfaced following his recent advocacy for Palestinian freedom and subsequent removal from Ed Sheeran's tour. While Macklemore apologized in 2014, stating he hadn't realized the imagery was antisemitic, U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee recently stated on Fox News Digital that Macklemore had become "the voice, if you will, of Jew hatred."

In New York City, accusations of antisemitism have arisen concerning Mayor Zohran Mamdani's administration. Jewish groups, including former state Supreme Court justice John Leventhal, have claimed antisemitism after Leventhal was not reappointed to a judicial advisory committee, noting the committee lacks Jewish members. Leventhal alleges he was singled out due to his representation of Ghislaine Maxwell, a claim disputed by the Mayor's office, which cited concerns over financial ties to associates of Jeffrey Epstein. Separately, the Manhattan Institute has filed a lawsuit seeking to compel the administration to release documents related to an attempted meeting with the Iranian envoy to the UN.

On college campuses, Jewish students continue to report pervasive antisemitism. A student at George Washington University described feeling intimidated and targeted, citing protests with antisemitic overtones and an incident where stink bombs were deployed at an Israel Fest event. Broader reports describe universities as "cesspools of unchecked anti-Jewish hatred," highlighting the tangible impact on students' lived experiences.

Internationally, Australia's security intelligence agency, ASIO, has issued a stark warning. Director General Mike Burgess stated that the Jewish community faces threats from state actors, in particular Iran, and that he "wouldn't rule out the possibility that Iran would want to kill prominent Jewish Australians." ASIO has previously linked Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps to attacks on Jewish properties in Sydney and Melbourne. Australia expelled Iranian diplomats in August 2025.

In Jerusalem, a Reform synagogue, Kol Haneshama, was vandalized in mid-August. Teenagers reportedly smashed a window, entered the sanctuary, tore down a Pride flag, and damaged art. Police are investigating the incident. During Rosh Hashanah services, another group attempted to throw eggs at congregants. Haaretz noted a lack of response from Israeli government and Jerusalem's mayor.

The escalating climate of antisemitism has led to a dramatic rise in security spending for Jewish institutions across the United States. Analysis from The Jewish Federations of North America shows synagogues and community centers spent over one billion dollars on security last year, a 33% increase in a single year. This follows a surge in antisemitic hate crimes since the October 7th attacks. FBI data indicates that Jews comprised over 60% of all religiously-motivated hate crimes reported in 2025.

New state data from Hawaii reveals a disturbing trend: Jewish individuals, representing less than one percent of the population, were the targets of 75% of religion-based hate crimes in 2025. A local rabbi described receiving threats and fear following October 7th, including a message implying danger and a swastika found at a child's school.

In France, the Union of French Jewish Students condemned a court's decision to drop antisemitism charges from the sentencing of a woman involved in a 2024 group assault. The victims were called "dirty Zionists" during the attack, but the court focused on general assault charges, significantly limiting potential penalties. The group questioned what more needs to happen to officially recognize antisemitism in such cases.

On the political front, radio host Sid Rosenberg met with Vice President JD Vance at the White House to address concerns from Jewish conservatives regarding Vance's past statements on Israel and his relationship with Tucker Carlson. Rosenberg had previously criticized Vance for not being "strong enough on Israel."

Finally, research from Norway tracking attitudes towards Jews and Muslims over a decade shows measurable shifts in public sentiment toward Jews following the October 2023 attacks and the war in Gaza, illustrating how international events can influence social attitudes.

I'm Rachel Adler, thank you for listening to Antisemitism Watch.

Follow Antisemitism Watch in your podcast app so you don’t miss the next update.
This report was generated with AI assistance and may contain inaccuracies. Please verify important details with primary sources.

🎧 Click Here to Listen & Subscribe

Sources:
- theguardian.com: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2026/sep/18/labor-migration-plan-tony-burke-coalition-qantas-renewable-energy-ntwnfb
- wtov9.com: https://wtov9.com/news/nation-world/man-from-kansas-allegedly-threatens-to-kill-ben-shapiro-over-religion
- clevelandjewishnews.com: https://www.clevelandjewishnews.com/jns/north-carolina-man-arrested-over-antisemitic-threats-sent-to-jewish-leaders-holocaust-memorial/article_ec851541-1fd0-5d65-8f32-fa90722fa1b8.html
- columbusjewishnews.com: https://www.columbusjewishnews.com/jns/hawaii-rabbis-say-they-fight-jew-hatred-with-shaloha-spirit-after-state-data-shows-jews/article_4517f45f-b0f0-5758-a004-fab4866d8910.html
- columbusjewishnews.com: https://www.columbusjewishnews.com/jns/north-carolina-man-arrested-over-antisemitic-threats-sent-to-jewish-leaders-holocaust-memorial/article_4cf6ae0c-5fff-5868-bb11-62d73b0e9034.html
- newsobserver.com: https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/education/article317287983.html
- directlinenews.substack.com: https://directlinenews.substack.com/p/antisemitism-is-not-an-abstract-debate
- instagram.com: https://www.instagram.com/p/DdZ2_IJGewD/
- nypost.com: https://nypost.com/2026/09/17/us-news/sid-rosenberg-charmed-vance-at-white-house-meeting-to-mend-fences-with-jewish-conservatives/
- snopes.com: https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/macklemore-antisemitic-costume/
- foxnews.com: https://www.foxnews.com/politics/mike-huckabee-calls-out-macklemore-antisemitism-voice-jew-hatred
- ny1.com: https://ny1.com/nyc/queens/news/2026/09/17/how-the-new-york-city-mayor-selects-judges
- clevelandjewishnews.com: https://www.clevelandjewishnews.com/jns/manhattan-institute-sues-to-force-mamdani-admin-to-release-documents/article_29d45ae2-3146-5720-a7fc-2ac7dc44209e.html
- religionnews.com: https://religionnews.com/2026/09/17/is-antisemitism-an-exceptional-hatred/
- nypost.com: https://nypost.com/2026/09/17/us-news/jewish-centers-spent-more-than-1-billion-on-security-last-year-as-antisemitism-soars-across-us/
- haaretz.com: https://www.haaretz.com/opinion/2026-09-17/ty-article-opinion/.premium/a-synagogue-was-harmed-and-the-politicians-shrugged-not-in-nyc-in-jerusalem/000001a0-afd2-dea8-afe0-effe4eef0000
- veriangroup.com: https://www.veriangroup.com/case-studies/tracking-antisemitism-and-anti-muslim-attitudes-in-a-changing-society
- columbusjewishnews.com: https://www.columbusjewishnews.com/jns/french-jewish-students-decry-courts-omission-of-antisemitism/article_c8613cc1-c865-54d7-adc3-f6367d77ebb9.html
- jta.org: https://www.jta.org/2026/09/17/ny/nyc-man-sentenced-for-oct-2023-attack-on-israeli-tourist