Holliswein's blog

On a misty autumn day, members of JAC gathered to meet with Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ), who offered her insights on the upcoming 2024 election and various pressing issues. With her unique and remarkable background in military and national security, which includes piloting Sea King helicopters on missions throughout Europe and the Middle East, and serving on the Battle Watch Floor during the Iraq invasion, Mikie brings a distinctive perspective to safeguarding our democracy.

 

Labor day is the unofficial end of summer. We hope that you enjoyed this slower, lazier season with treasured time catching up with family and friends and that you were able to find respite from the record-breaking temperatures that swept across our nation.

 

At the same time, our country faced the challenges of increased flooding, tornadoes and hurricanes -- all direct consequences of our ever-changing weather patterns that are now becoming the new normal. We are living in dangerous climate times.

 

Last night marked a pivotal moment in our nation's history as former President Donald Trump surrendered himself to face racketeering charges stemming from his efforts to reverse Georgia’s 2020 election results. Trump’s processing at the jail underscored the fundamental principle that no individual is above the law. While this event casts a shadow on our country in some aspects, it also highlights the resiliency of our Constitution and the openness of our judicial system.

 

This week, Jewish communities in the U.S. and across the world watched with great interest and concern over the political events playing out in Israel regarding the government’s planned judicial overhaul. 

 

JAC has always maintained a neutral position when it comes to the internal politics in Israel. We work to ensure there is bipartisan support in Congress for Israel with the candidates we help elect. As a democracy, Israeli change has to come from within, and not be influenced by external forces.

 

 

Next month will mark the 60th anniversary of the March on Washington, a massive civil rights protest that, among other things, called for greater voting rights. Today that goal seems as elusive as ever. 

 

Over the last few years, once-ruby red Texas has become increasingly purple as support for the Democratic Party has resurged throughout Texas’s vast metropolitan areas. In 2020, Donald Trump won the Lone Star state by 4.5 percent, and in 2018, far-right Senator Ted Cruz was nearly ousted from office by former Congressman Beto O’Rourke, holding onto his seat by just 2 percentage points. 

 

Next year, Senator Cruz is up for re-election again, and this time, it looks like he is in real danger of losing his seat.

 

Since the Highland Park shooting, which happened just steps from JAC’s office, we have experienced nearly 365 more days of gun violence. These shootings do not stop, despite our nation’s pleas for help.

 

Gun violence has forced us to reexamine — and even alter — our everyday lives. Events that were carefree have taken on a new level of apprehension. In the past, an emergency exit was to be used in the rare case of fire. Today we search it out so we have an escape path from gunfire. 

 

Saturday marks the one year anniversary of the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v Wade. We knew it was coming and many states across the country were already imposing abortion restrictions. But nothing could prepare us for the true impact of that decision, the ensuing nightmare, and the horrific near-death situations for women who could not receive an abortion.

 

JAC was honored and privileged to have Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) join us at JAC’s 2023 Power of Women Luncheon this week in the Chicago area. Thanks to our co-chairs, Jessica B. Cohen, Marisa Chez, and Marcy Zoller, more than 440 attended making this JAC’s largest event to date.

 

It’s surreal to write this, my final farewell, as I depart JACPAC after my time as the Senior Fellow. It’s easy to want to change the world. It’s a whole lot harder to find the tools to do it. JAC gave me the tools and then some.