Jon Stewart, Sen. Fetterman clash over Israel red line: That is not our country

Sen.John Fetterman doubled down on his support for Israel in an interview with comedian Jon Stewart, who questioned what makes Israel the pol’s red line and inflammatorily saying, “That is not our country.”In a preview clip for Stewart’s podcast “The Weekly Show,” Stewart asked the Democratic Pennsylvanian why he insists that left-leaning Democratic candidates, specifically members of the Democratic Socialists of America, support Israel.“You could agree with them 90%, but Israel is the red line?” Stewart asked.“Absolutely,” the Pennsylvania Dem replied.

“I can’t ever turn my back to Israel after where it’s at.”“I mean no disrespect on this, but that is not our country,” Stewart said.“You’re saying that these candidates may have great ideas for our economy.

They may want to do the exact same thing you want to do, in terms of getting money out of politics.They may want to increase the social safety net.

They may want to change the balance of power from capital back to labor, but if they don’t agree with you on Israel, you don’t want them in your party?”Fetterman pushed back, saying, “Well, I don’t know who you’re referencing to, specifically.”“No, I’m referencing what you just said,” Stewart replied.When Fetterman challenged Stewart to “name one” politician who meets those qualifications, Stewart listed Dr.Abdul El-Sayed, a progressive who won the Michigan Senate primary on Wednesday; Rep.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY); and Sen.Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.).“What I’m saying is, like, if you are a DSA member, if you are a member of a specific political party, run under your own banner,” Fetterman said, insisting that socialists should not run as Democratic candidates.“It’s just an organization.

We have a two-party system.It’s like the Freedom Caucus in the Republican Party,” Stewart responded.

“Even like [Mayor Zohran] Mamdani in New York is DSA, but there are things in the DSA platform that h...