Chuck Schumer has had a whirlwind week. On Monday, I chatted with the Senate minority leader about various topics, including the future of the Democratic Party, their strategy against President Trump, and his upcoming book, “Antisemitism in America: A Warning,” set for release on March 18.
By Saturday, the political landscape had shifted dramatically. Democrats faced a tough decision in Congress: support a Republican-led federal spending bill or risk a government shutdown. While House Democrats largely opposed the bill, Schumer initially planned to do the same. However, in a surprising turn on Friday, he and eight other Democratic senators sided with Republicans, allowing the bill to pass.
This decision sparked significant backlash from within his party, with some members expressing disappointment and even suggesting that Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez should challenge him in his next Senate race. During our follow-up conversation, I asked Schumer about the intense criticism he faced, how he plans to lead a party that seems frustrated with him, and his relationship with Hakeem Jeffries, the House minority leader.
Schumer shared that growing up in Brooklyn, he rarely encountered antisemitism. However, he noticed a shift in the country's atmosphere that prompted him to write his book. Born in 1950, Schumer described the first half-century of his life as a golden era for Jewish people in America, marked by widespread acceptance. Although he experienced occasional antisemitic incidents, such as a derogatory comment directed at his father when he was eight, these were rare.
Things began to change in the early 21st century. After the 9/11 attacks in 2001, conspiracy theories targeting Jewish people emerged, although they didn't lead to widespread antisemitism. The 2008 financial crisis saw a slight increase in antisemitic rhetoric, with figures like George Soros becoming targets of conspiracy theories. However, it was the events of October 7 that marked a significant escalation, with overt antisemitism becoming more visible. Jewish businesses were targeted, and individuals wearing Jewish symbols faced harassment and violence. This shift alarmed many, leading some to question whether such events could happen in America.
As the highest-ranking Jewish elected official in U.S. history, Schumer felt compelled to address these issues through his book. When entering politics, he embraced his Jewish identity, advising new candidates to be authentic. Although he occasionally encountered antisemitism, such as a remark from a senior member of the Judiciary Committee, he found that being true to himself resonated with voters, even in areas where he was unsure how his Jewishness would be received.