Hamas

The last few months have been trying times for the Jewish community following the Hamas attack on Israel and rising anti-Semitism across the United States. But life and celebration go on at local congregations as Hanukkah begins.

Democratic Massachusetts State Senator and union member Paul Mark is reacting to the Western Mass Labor Federation’s call for a ceasefire in Gaza this week.

Discussion over Israel and Palestine is largely about blame. There’s plenty to go around – for cruelty, murder, mayhem and stupidity, for refusal to come to the table and refusal to accept the rights and the very existence of others.

I suppose by now everyone has heard charges and counter-charges about the war between Hamas and Israel. Lurid stories of atrocities committed in person by Hamas fighters are countered by stories of thousands of children at risk from Israeli bombs falling in Gaza. Who is believable? All governments lie when it suits them. And each government plays on the fact that the opposition is totally untrustworthy. Thus, the supporters of the Palestinians are skeptical of Israeli charges of brutal mass killings by Hamas and supporters of Israel do not believe stories about casualties caused by Israeli air strikes.

(Airs 10/27/23 @ 3 p.m. & 10/29/23 @ 6 p.m.) The Media Project is an inside look at media coverage of current events with former Times Union Editor, current Upstate American, Substack columnist Rex Smith, Judy Patrick, former Editor of the Daily Gazette and Vice President for Editorial Development for the New York Press Association, Barbara Lombardo, former Editor of the Saratogian and Adjunct Professor at the University at Albany, and Daily Freeman Publisher Emeritus Ira Fusfeld. On this week’s Media Project, Rex, Judy, Barbara and Ira talk about the misinformation coming out of the Israel, Hamas war, the importance of local coverage of the mass shooting in Maine, media consumption a trust both being down, and much more.

Machiavelli wrote that a prince had to do hateful things first and quickly so people would forget and get used to a better world. Dribbling out harsh decisions makes people hate princes.

(Airs 10/19/23 @ 3 p.m.) WAMC’s David Guistina speaks with New York state Comptroller Tom DiNapoli about the state’s investment in Israel, profits being down on Wall Street, coming state budget deficits, and much more.

Last December, Republican state Senator Dan Stec of the 45th district was one of a dozen legislators from various states invited to tour sites in Israel.

(Airs 10/13/23 @ 3 p.m. & 10/15/23 @ 6 p.m.) The Media Project is an inside look at media coverage of current events with former Times Union Associate Editor Mike Spain, Judy Patrick, former Editor of the Daily Gazette and Vice President for Editorial Development for the New York Press Association, Daily Freeman Publisher Emeritus Ira Fusfeld and WAMC News Director Ian Pickus. On this week’s Media Project, Rex, Judy, Ira and Ian talk about what it’s like to be a reporter covering a war, whether the social media platform Threads will replace X as a source for breaking news, and much more.

As the war in Israel continues, police in Albany, New York City and around the state are stepping up patrols as Jewish communities prepare for an uneasy weekend of services.