Antisemitism Watch

Violent Extremism Targets Jewish Community: Shootings and Synagogue Plot Uncovered
VP Vance Defends Friendship with Tucker Carlson Amid Antisemitism Concerns
Spain Sees Sharp Rise in Antisemitic Incidents; France Boosts Security

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Antisemitism Watch

Antisemitism Watch is a daily monitoring and analysis program tracking antisemitism worldwide — incidents, rhetoric, policy, and institutional responses — r

📝 Transcript

You're listening to Antisemitism Watch, I'm Rachel Adler.

Today, we're tracking dangerous trends from extreme violence to concerning rhetoric, and the institutional responses attempting to address them.

We begin with recent acts of violence and terror plots. The ADL reports that in Richmond, Virginia, Michael Puckett allegedly shot and killed one Carroll County sheriff's deputy and wounded another during a welfare check. Puckett, who was later captured in North Carolina, has a history involving explosives and weapons, and reportedly has a swastika tattoo and Nazi paraphernalia.

Also from the ADL, in San Diego, California, two teenagers, Caleb Vazquez and Cain Clark, carried out a deadly shooting spree targeting the Islamic Center of San Diego, resulting in three deaths. Manifestos left by the shooters revealed the influence of extremist ideologies like accelerationist white supremacy and incel culture, with writings stating their goal was to spark a 'crusade' and that Muslims and Jews 'must be isolated and exterminated.'

In Texas, authorities arrested Angelina Han Hicks and a male juvenile from Texas on charges related to an alleged plot to attack a Houston synagogue. Prosecutors stated Hicks planned to kill 'as many Jews as possible' through a vehicular attack, charging her with conspiracy to commit assault with a deadly weapon and murder.

Meanwhile, in Orlando, Florida, Paul Miller, known as ‘Gypsy Crusader,’ a white supremacist fighter, was widely condemned for making a Nazi salute and an antisemitic slur after defeating his Jewish opponent Ben Azoulay. The Algemeiner reported Miller said of Azoulay, 'He’s not a tough guy. He’s not an alpha male. He’s a short little f–king Jew prick.' He then performed the Nazi salute multiple times. The Holocaust Memorial Resource and Education Center of Florida identified Miller as an 'openly neo-Nazi fighter' with a history of displaying Nazi symbols. Orlando Venues, which operates the arena, stated it condemns 'all forms of hate speech, discrimination, antisemitism, racism, and any message that encourages hatred or violence.'

In Newton, Massachusetts, police are investigating a hate incident after antisemitic graffiti, including swastikas and a Nazi slogan, was found on playground equipment at an apartment complex. The graffiti was discovered by a 12-year-old girl who recognized the symbols from school lessons. Newton police are tracking 10 such incidents this year, compared to 20 throughout all of last year.

On the political front, Vice President JD Vance acknowledged political disagreements with Tucker Carlson, the former Fox News personality known for spreading antisemitic conspiracy theories. However, Vance stated he would not disavow Carlson, saying, 'I’m not going to play the game where I throw friends under the bus.' Vance made these remarks after sidestepping questions about Carlson at an event for the Republican Jewish Coalition, later suggesting his refusal to disavow Carlson should serve as a model for inter-political discourse.

The Trump administration is proposing a rule that would strip tax-exempt status from schools providing advantages based on race in admissions, scholarships, or financial aid, potentially affecting over 18,000 institutions. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that 'Schools rebranding race-based preferences as equitable, inclusive, or diversity-enhancing does not change their discriminatory nature.' The rule is slated to take effect for taxable years beginning after May 31, 2027, following a public comment period.

Regarding rhetoric that meets IHRA criteria, an article discusses a defense of actor Mark Ruffalo's comments on the Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery deal. The piece argues that the defense, signed by over 170 Jewish artists and intellectuals, inadvertently employs language echoing historical antisemitic tropes, such as wealthy Jews controlling media and public opinion. The author contends that the defense 'has produced an argument about a Jewish billionaire sitting at the center of an interconnected system of media ownership, political influence... surveillance and social control. Sounds like conspiratorial antisemitism.'

Internationally, Spain's Federation of Jewish Communities, or FCJE, recorded 221 antisemitic incidents in 2025, a 14.5% increase from 193 in 2024, warning that hatred is becoming 'normalized.' The Interior Ministry also reported a rise in officially recorded hate crimes. FCJE president David Obadía noted that Jewish children are among the only ones attending school with police presence, and discrimination is a daily reality. A spokesperson for the FCJE attributed the rise partly to 'campaigns against Israel' that also 'blame all Jews.' The Movement Against Intolerance stated, 'Antisemitism is not an opinion or a political disagreement: it is a form of hatred and discrimination against Jews.'

In response to the hostile climate, France is significantly ramping up security for synagogues and Jewish gatherings ahead of the High Holy Days, urging 'extreme vigilance.' The French Interior Ministry's report indicated 1,320 antisemitic incidents in 2025, though down 16% from the previous year, they remain alarmingly high. The report also notes that while Jews make up less than 1 percent of France's population, they accounted for 53 percent of all religiously motivated crimes last year, and antisemitic acts have roughly tripled since 2022.

In the United States, security spending for Jewish communities has reached a record $1.05 billion annually, according to the Jewish Federations of North America, an increase from $765 million in 2024. Leaders describe these costs as an additional 'tax' on Jewish life, diverting funds from other communal needs. The FBI reported that Jews were targeted in 63% of all religious hate crimes in 2025, and 2025 was the deadliest year for Diaspora Jews in decades, with anti-Jewish attackers killing 20 people.

On Capitol Hill, the House of Representatives approved the Protect Economic and Academic Freedom Act, which would penalize colleges and universities receiving federal funds for participating in boycotts of Israel or hindering student exchange programs. The bill passed with bipartisan support, though some Democrats raised concerns about potential First Amendment violations. House Education Committee Chair Tim Walberg stated the bill upholds the principle that institutions should not discriminate against Israel or Israeli students.

Finally, regarding campus incidents, the evidence provided states only that 'The university has responded to claims of antisemitism in several sweeping actions in recent years,' offering no further details.

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

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This report was generated with AI assistance and may contain inaccuracies. Please verify important details with primary sources.

📚 Sources

Sources:
- ADL: https://www.adl.org/81265
- ADL: https://www.adl.org/81264
- ADL: https://www.adl.org/81259
- Algemeiner: https://www.algemeiner.com/2026/09/03/neo-nazi-fighter-widely-condemned-antisemitic-slur-nazi-salutes-beating-jewish-opponent/
- wcvb.com: https://www.wcvb.com/article/swastikas-found-at-newton-highlands-playground/73606597
- harvardindependent.com: https://harvardindependent.com/updates-on-antisemitism-litigation-against-harvard/
- nypost.com: https://nypost.com/2026/09/03/us-news/trump-admin-targets-18k-schools-with-race-based-criteria-threatening-pricey-consequences/
- wsj.com: https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/vance-defends-friendship-with-trump-critic-tucker-carlson-925319dc
- clevelandjewishnews.com: https://www.clevelandjewishnews.com/jta/jd-vance-refuses-to-disavow-tucker-carlson/article_7bb20da0-cc6e-5dec-bbb0-c2c1bf00268c.html
- jta.org: https://www.jta.org/2026/09/03/politics/jd-vance-refuses-to-disavow-tucker-carlson
- jewishinsider.com: https://jewishinsider.com/2026/09/jd-vance-defends-friendship-tucker-carlson/
- newsweek.com: https://www.newsweek.com/mark-ruffalo-defense-antisemitic-trope-12401554
- yahoo.com: https://www.yahoo.com/news/politics/articles/house-approves-bill-penalize-colleges-193726059.html
- Algemeiner: https://www.algemeiner.com/2026/09/03/france-tightens-security-jewish-sites-ahead-high-holy-days-rising-antisemitic-threats/
- timesofisrael.com: https://www.timesofisrael.com/us-jewish-community-security-costs-surpass-1-billion-per-year-study/
- JTA: https://www.jta.org/2026/09/03/global/spains-jewish-federation-reports-over-200-antisemitic-incidents-in-2025
- timesofisrael.com: https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/antisemitic-incidents-up-14-5-in-spain-in-2025-jewish-group-says/