The Contrarian with David Bernstein

David Bernstein

Welcome to "The Contrarian." This podcast is all about diving into the world of liberal values, radical ideologies and engaging in truly open conversations. We will take a close look at what in god’s name is going on in American and Western universities and what, if anything, we can do about it.

  1. A Sociology of Antizionism w/ Prof Shaul Kelner

    MAY 8

    A Sociology of Antizionism w/ Prof Shaul Kelner

    00:00 – Introduction & Framing the Debate  00:58 – Understanding Antizionism Politically  03:34 – Antizionism on the Left and Right  05:06 – Systemic Antizionism Explained  07:01 – Antizionism vs. Antisemitism  09:00 – Why Labels Matter Less Than Actions  13:17 – The Institutional Rise of Antizionism  18:09 – How Extremists Rebrand Narratives  30:47 – Activism, Mobilization & Motivation  35:14 – Hope, Resilience & Community Response

    50 min
  2. The Antisemitism versus Antizionism debate w/ Prof. David Hirsh

    APR 23

    The Antisemitism versus Antizionism debate w/ Prof. David Hirsh

    00:00 – Intro: Anti-Antizionism Explained 01:27 – Is This Really “New”? 02:59 – How Antisemitism Evolves 05:20 – Why the Hyphen Matters 06:57 – Antizionism’s Constructed Reality 09:57 – Labeling Jews & Zionists 11:27 – Conspiracy Thinking Patterns 13:51 – Separate or Same Debate 14:39 – Defining Antisemitism Today 16:59 – Why Antizionism Matters 19:11 – History vs. Modern Forms 23:26 – Culture & Jewish Identity Shifts 28:45 – How Narratives Spread 35:49 – Why Israel Becomes the Target 46:32 – Can This Strategy Work?

    1h 8m
  3. Should American Jews Carry Guns? w/ Dr. Adam Fuller

    APR 9

    Should American Jews Carry Guns? w/ Dr. Adam Fuller

    00:00 Introduction to The Armed Jew 03:01 The Psychological Shift Post-October 7th 06:14 The Debate on Gun Ownership and Safety 09:08 Cultural Disconnect and Gun Ownership 11:59 The Jewish Condition and Security 15:11 Historical Context of Jewish Gun Ownership 17:57 Gun Control and Legislation Perspectives 20:54 The Role of Anti-Zionism in Contemporary Antisemitism 23:57 Conclusion and Reflections on Jewish Identity   Find Dr Fuller's book : The Armed Jew: The Case for Jewish Gun Ownership-  https://www.amazon.com/Armed-Jew-Case-Jewish-Ownership/dp/B0FFM4NRMF  Read David’s article - Jews and Guns: Time for a Reckoning  https://jewishjournal.com/commentary/opinion/383491/jews-and-guns-time-for-a-reckoning/

    44 min
  4. Antizionism's Legal Fight w/ Prof. Rona Kaufman

    MAR 13

    Antizionism's Legal Fight w/ Prof. Rona Kaufman

    00:00 Antisemitism’s Legal Fight – Episode Intro  01:36 Antizionism Origins in Western Academia  03:01 Ideological Influence in Universities  07:13 Campus Antisemitism and Law Schools  09:35 Rona Kaufman’s Zionist Identity  14:01 Antisemitism in U.S. Civil Rights Law  19:25 MIT Antisemitism Lawsuit Explained  21:51 Center for Jewish Legal Studies  29:49 Antizionism as a Legal Discrimination Issue  33:26 Debrief: Law, Politics, and Culture War

    47 min
  5. How Antizionism Evolved into a Separate Ideology w/ Prof Andrew Pessin

    FEB 26

    How Antizionism Evolved into a Separate Ideology w/ Prof Andrew Pessin

    00:00 Opening & Series Introduction  01:20 Meet Prof. Andrew Pessin  03:10 What “Anti-Anti-Zionism” Means  06:45 Campus Climate & Academic Pressures  10:30 How Antizionism Enters Intellectual Frameworks  15:05 Progressive Ideology & Jewish Identity Tensions  19:20 The Connecticut College Controversy  23:55 Free Speech, Fear & Faculty Silence  28:40 Moral Clarity vs Academic Conformity  33:15 The Weaponization of Social Justice Language  38:00 Impact on Jewish Students & Campus Life  42:10 How Allies & Institutions Should Respond  46:30 Final Thoughts & Closing Reflections

    52 min
  6. Is Antizionism the New Antisemitism? w/ Dr. Naya Lekht

    FEB 12

    Is Antizionism the New Antisemitism? w/ Dr. Naya Lekht

    00:00 Introduction to Antizionism and Its Importance 01:56 Naya Lekht's Personal Journey and Insights 05:25 Distinguishing Antizionism from Antisemitism 09:10 The Three Eras of Jew Hatred 12:50 Debating Antizionism: A Strategic Conversation 17:02 The Role of Free Speech in Discussing Antizionism 20:17 Understanding Misinformation vs. Disinformation 23:35 The Nature of Disinformation 26:54 Shifting the Focus: Accusers and Their Motives 28:49 Education vs. Ideology: A Paradigm Shift 32:05 The Role of Empathy in Education 35:28 Understanding Power Dynamics in Antisemitism 38:17 Strategies for Change: Grassroots Movements

    49 min
  7. The New Anti Anti-Zionism w/ Adam Louis-Klein

    JAN 29

    The New Anti Anti-Zionism w/ Adam Louis-Klein

    00:00 Introduction to Anti-Anti-Zionism 02:09 Personal Journey and Ideological Shift 05:55 Understanding Anti-Zionism vs. Anti-Semitism 09:44 Critique of Indigeneity Discourse 15:23 The Paradox of Tolerance in Discourse 21:56 Structure of the Anti-Zionism Movement 24:28 The Power of Libel and Belief 27:56 Defining Anti-Zionism and Its Implications 29:29 The Challenge of Anti-Zionist Jews 32:54 Understanding Anti-Zionism as Its Own Phenomenon 36:38 Critiques of the New Anti-Zionism Movement 41:18 Strategies for Advancing Anti-Anti-Zionism

    52 min
  8. How Teachers Unions became Platforms for Political Activists w/ Paul Zimmerman

    12/23/2025

    How Teachers Unions became Platforms for Political Activists w/ Paul Zimmerman

    Chapters 00:00 Defense of Freedom Institute: Mission & Focus 02:48 Ideological Capture of Teachers Unions 06:16 How Teachers Unions Shifted Ideologically 09:03 Strategic Control of Education Systems 11:59 Ideology Inside School Districts 15:08 Unions and the Push for Radical Agendas 18:34 Democratic Socialists’ Influence in Unions 22:50 NEA vs. AFT: Comparing Union Radicalism 26:21 How Union Ideology Continues to Evolve 27:33 Why Countering Union Power Is So Difficult 30:36 Paths to Transparency and Accountability 32:41 Research, Data, and Oversight in Education 34:39 Teacher Colleges and Ideological Training 37:09 Political Money and Education Policy 39:01 Cultural Transformation in Schools 45:32 Confronting Antisemitism in Education

    52 min
See All (40)

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
6 Ratings

About

Welcome to "The Contrarian." This podcast is all about diving into the world of liberal values, radical ideologies and engaging in truly open conversations. We will take a close look at what in god’s name is going on in American and Western universities and what, if anything, we can do about it.

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