Arab Talk With Jess & Jamal

Arab Talk correspondent Phil Pasquini provides updates on the US presidential race from Washington, DC, and discusses how a potentially contested election might batter America’s global image. Jess and Jamal give their perspectives on the antiquated electoral system and Trump’s premature victory claim.

Arab Talk reporter Phil Pasquini provides an update about the ongoing preparations for the US Elections in Washington, DC, with some business owners boarding up their storefronts in anticipation of potential riots. Jess and Jamal reveal their predictions for the presidential elections. They also discuss the latest wave of COVID-19 sweeping Europe and the United States.

Our guest Chafika Attalai, International Project Manager at CCIF (Collectif Contre L’Islamophobie en France), discusses Emmanuel Macron’s recent attacks on Muslims in France and a new Islamophobic bill aimed at banning Muslim religious practices. Jess and Jamal discuss the increased attacks by Israeli colonial settlers on Palestinian farmers during the olive harvest.

Arab Talk guest analyst Ronnie Barkan says that the Israeli left is in denial, as thousands of Israelis protested across the country, flouting a new law meant to curb anti-Netanyahu demonstrations during a coronavirus lockdown. Jess and Jamal provide the latest update on the upcoming presidential elections. And an interview with Mikey Muhanna, Executive Director of Afikra.com.

Canadian-Armenian Journalist Raffi Elliott discusses the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict which erupted over the enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh. More than 100 people, including civilians, have died in separate clashes and bombings. Jess and Jamal provide their take on the chaotic debate between Joe Biden and Donald Trump. They question the effectiveness of the two additional debates scheduled in October.

A Webinar Censored: an interview with Dr. Rabab Abdulhadi. Jillian C. York, Director for International Freedom of Expression discusses corporate censorship.

Our guest Ali Abunimah discusses his recent article in the Electronic Intifada, "Meet Emgage, the pro-Israel Muslims backing Joe Biden." Jess and Jamal deconstruct the so-called Abraham Accords.

Donald Trump, The Teflon Man - 10 Sep 2020 by News You Can Use with Jamal Dajani & Jess Ghannam

Journalist Daoud Kuttab discusses the recent arrest of Emad Hajjaj, one of the Arab world’s best-known cartoonists, by Jordanian police. He was released only after an international outcry, which included an article in the Washington Post by our guest. Jess and Jamal talk about the reaction to the UAE normalization with Israel and the recent Islamophobic comments by MSNBC host Joy Reid. Reid has previously faced criticism for derogatory remarks towards Muslims and the LGBTQ community.

Palestinian-American attorney and human rights activist Huwaida Arraf discusses why the 2020 Democratic platform betrays Palestinians and again gives Israel a pass. Jess and Jamal talk about the shooting of Jacob Blake, a 29-year-old Black man, by a police officer in Kenosha, Wisconsin. They also discuss the Democratic and Republican conventions.

The UAE government says that its normalization with Israel “immediately stops” Israeli plans to annex parts of the West Bank. Our guest Diana Buttu refutes this. Jess and Jamal discuss what’s shaping up at the DNC and the recent attacks on Palestinian activist Linda Sarsour. They also discuss former Trump advisor Steve Bannon’s arrest on fraud charges.

Guest Dr. Rania Masri describes the aftermath of Beirut’s explosion. She says that Lebanon's donor countries have pledged very little money to help Beirut recover from its horrific devastation. Below is a link to a variety of organizations you can donate to: http://awanmedia.net/media/beirut-disaster-relief/ Jess and Jamal discuss the United Arab Emirate’s normalization with Israel. They also talk about the recent primary victory achieved by the Democratic “Squad.”

Lebanon Is Devastated - 6 Aug 2020 by News You Can Use with Jamal Dajani & Jess Ghannam

Guest Lara Kiswani, Executive Director of the Arab Resource and Organizing Center (AROC) discusses why right-wing groups are flooding an ongoing public comment period on whether California should cut Ethnic Studies generally, and Arab-American Studies specifically, from their schools. Jess and Jamal discuss President Trump’s tweet about delaying the elections.

Jess and Jamal discuss both the Democratic Party’s platform on foreign policy and President Trump’s cognitive abilities. Cookbook author and host of "Feast in the Middle East," Blanche Shaheen, shares delicious heirloom Palestinian recipes to help people cope with sheltering-in-place during the pandemic.

Guest Ronnie Barkan describes his ordeal along with two other activists who are facing trial in Berlin for disrupting an event which was held in June 2017 at the Humboldt University for member of the Israeli Knesset Aliza Lavie. To learn more about the Humboldt-3 visit: https://medium.com/humboldt3/ Jess and Jamal discuss Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s decree ordering the Hagia Sophia to be opened for Muslim prayers. A top Turkish court had revoked the 1934 decree by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of the Turkish republic, that had turned the Hagia Sophia into a museum.

Guest comedian and writer Amer Zahr says that Arab Americans should not be counted as white in the US Census. Does being legally white turn this oft-sidelined community into a ‘legally invisible’ entity? Jess and Jamal discuss the recent brouhaha with Peter Beinart’s editorial making the case for a binational Jewish-Palestinian state.

Diana Buttu, legal analyst and former legal advisor to the Palestine Liberation Organization Chairman Mahmoud Abbas and Palestinian negotiators, explains the planned Israeli annexation of illegal colonial settlements in the West Bank and the Jordan Valley. Jess and Jamal discuss the recent arrest of Jeffrey Epstein’s confidante Ghislaine Maxwell and her father’s ties to the Israeli Mossad.

Arab Talk guest Eman Jamal shares her personal experience fighting COVID-19 after contracting it along with her family in Dubai, UAE. She also provides tips about ways to cope with the illness. Jess and Jamal discuss Jamaal Bowman’s victory over Rep. Eliot Engel marking a major defeat for the Israel lobby.

Our guest, Rev. Michael Yoshii, talks about race relations and solidarity between Japanese Americans and Palestinians. Jess and Jamal discuss the book by former National Security Advisor John Bolton that President Trump is trying to stop from being published.