Israel’s influence industry in the US

play videoVideo Duration 26 minutes 31 seconds play-arrow26:31Abdul El-Sayed’s hardline campaign exposes a party, a media ecosystem and a debate over Israel in the US.

In the United States, Michigan’s Democratic primary has become a test of how US politics – and the media covering it – are responding to a rapidly changing debate over Israel.

Progressive candidate Abdul El-Sayed faces establishment candidate Haley Stevens, whose campaign has attracted unprecedented spending from pro-Israel groups. It is part of a wider trend across the US, as the Israeli government steps up efforts to shape public opinion.

Contributors:  Sarah Leah Whitson – Human rights lawyer Alex Kane – Senior reporter, Jewish Currents James Zogby – Founder, Arab American Institute

An investigation published by Drop Site News this week has revealed the details of Israel’s latest online influence campaign. Tariq Nafi speaks to the report’s author, Nick Cleveland-Stout, about how the Israeli government is influencing AI-powered chatbots to shape the narrative about the country.

While some monks promote hardline Sinhala-Buddhist nationalist narratives, Galkande Dhammananda Thero is challenging those ideas and offering a different perspective on identity and belonging.

The Listening Post’s Meenakshi Ravi reports on the monks speaking to Sri Lankans from their digital pulpits.

Featuring: Darshatha Gamage – Digital rights activist Saritha Irugalbandara – Tech & social media researcher Galkande Dhammananda Thero – Buddhist monk, Walpola Institute