Guest #68 | Elijah Kahlenberg & Jadd Hashem: The UT Think Tank
They’re not your average college kids. In this firestarter episode, Gen Z voices Elijah Kahlenberg and Jadd Hashem expose the propaganda they were raised on, the silence of U.S. politicians, and the brutal reality of a genocide funded by American tax dollars. Jewish and Palestinian, partners in truth — and they're calling it like it is.
🎙️ Gen Z, Gaza & Ground Truth | Elijah Kahlenberg & Jadd Hashem on Identity, Israel-Palestine & Political Awakening.
The most explosive episode yet — two Gen Z leaders, one Palestinian, one Jewish, shatter mainstream narratives and expose the machinery behind propaganda, generational shifts, and political fear.
Episode Overview
In Episode #378, Ray Doustdar brings back Elijah Kahlenberg, joined by his UT Think Tank partner, Jadd Hashem, for a raw, eye-opening conversation that dismantles the clichés surrounding Gen Z’s political awareness, the Israel-Palestine conflict, and the quiet disillusionment with both U.S. political parties.
From personal stories of growing up in predominantly Jewish or Arab environments to the failures of Democratic leadership, they go deep on the cultural, religious, and political dynamics shaping a new wave of activism and clarity.
🎯 Key Takeaways
• Gen Z is not asleep — they’re watching Gaza, questioning narratives, and speaking louder than ever
• Zionist propaganda is breaking — especially among young Jews raised in it
• Hamas is likely a propped-up excuse for genocide, not a real resistance force anymore
• Democrats are silent, Republicans are fractured, and third-party trust is rising
• Zoran Mondani’s campaign shows the shift: justice, affordability, and America-first from the left
🧠 Summary
This episode cracks open the generational lens on Israel-Palestine like never before. Jadd Hashem, a Palestinian-American UT Austin senior, and Elijah Kahlenberg, a Jewish-American activist, speak with clarity and emotional force about their shared mission through their organization Atidna International. What began as cross-cultural student dialogue has become a platform for exposing U.S.-backed injustice in Gaza and pushing for peace built on truth, not PR.
Elijah breaks down how propaganda fed through Hebrew school collapsed once he simply talked to a Palestinian in high school. Jadd reflects on growing up in Texas being told to hide his Palestinian identity — and why that stops with him. They dive into how Netanyahu props up Hamas, why AIPAC owns too many Democrats, and how Zoran Mondani is flipping the script in New York City politics.
Ray doesn’t hold back either, naming names like Hakeem Jeffries, Chuck Schumer, Bernie Sanders, and Catherine Clark, calling out their silence or complicity in the face of genocide. If you think the youth are still “figuring it out,” this episode will flip that assumption on its head.
🔎 Practical Tips
• Start conversations with “the other side” — it humanizes and disarms
• Vet your news — move away from corporate media and seek independent journalism
• Call out hypocrisy in both parties, especially when human lives are on the line
• Support organizations like Atidna that are building bridges with integrity
• Watch local races like Zoran Mondani’s — they reflect the next national shift
📚 Research Spotlight
📊 A recent poll showed 56% of Jewish Israelis are “not at all concerned” about starvation in Gaza — while their government receives $3.8B annually from U.S. taxpayers.
📽️ The documentary “Israelism” by Simone Zimmerman is a must-watch for anyone questioning how Zionism was sold to young Jewish Americans.
❓FAQ
What is Atidna International?
A Gen Z-led peace organization promoting Arab-Jewish dialogue on campuses across the U.S.
Is Hamas real or manufactured?
According to Jadd and Ray, it began as real resistance but has been propped up by Netanyahu to maintain fear and justify genocide.
Why aren’t Democrats speaking out?
Most are funded by AIPAC or afraid of donor backlash. Even calling it “genocide” leads to internal pushback — as shown by Rep. Catherine Clark.
What’s unique about Zoran Mondani’s platform?
He rejects AIPAC money, centers NYC affordability, and refuses to play foreign policy games — a true shift from traditional Democratic politics.
⏱️ Chapters & Timestamps
00:00 – Gen Z takes the mic: Meet Elijah & Jadd
05:00 – Growing up Palestinian in Texas, Jewish in L.A.
10:45 – Breaking propaganda: real talk between “enemies”
19:00 – Is the root cause of Zionism demographic control?
24:00 – Is Hamas real or just a useful boogeyman?
28:00 – Zoran Mondani vs. the machine: NYC’s political shift
35:00 – Democrats’ silence: follow the money
40:00 – Atidna’s mission, backlash, and hope
54:00 – Redistricting in Texas: another cheat code
57:00 – Syria’s chaos & the fake face of reform
🧭 Final Thought
When you break bread with someone the media taught you to hate, you start to realize — the real enemy is the lie.
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